Summer went by way too quickly! I feel like it was just yesterday we were baking in the sweltering heat, begging for cooler temps. Well we have them now! When I look out into the yard here at Soundview Landscape Supply, I have slightly mixed emotions… Although I’m a little sad that summer is over, I love the nip in the air and the beautiful colors on the trees. I even look forward to the freezing cold and snow (crazy, I know). Winter can be a time of rest, it’s when we would rather stay inside our homes where it is warm and cozy. It does get a little boring though and just when we think we can’t handle another day of cold, Spring arrives! While Winter has a few benefits for us, it’s necessary for plants in our climate to be cold and rest over the Winter. They just need a little help from us to prepare them properly.

Here at Soundview, we need to take very careful steps over the winter to protect our nursery stock. There are also a few simple steps that you can do for your own garden or a customers garden to prepare for its winter rest. All of these measure are fairly basic, but very beneficial.  If you take these simple steps, you will be happy you did when Spring gets here.

Lawn:
Although leaf cleanups can be a tiring and tedious process, they are necessary not only because it’s aesthetically pleasing to your landscape, but also because it is healthier. Leaves can hold fungus which may damage your lawn or gardens. So make cleaning the leaves a priority and if you can, make it fun! You’re never too old to jump in a pile of leaves!
After you have raked up the leaves and the lawn is clear, apply a winter fertilizer and lime your yard so it has nutrients readily available in the spring.

Garden:
After you have taken care of the leaves, tend to the gardens. If you have perennial plants most will need to be cut back. But be careful because there are some that have special requirements, such as Heuchera, which can be pruned in the Spring. You can rip out the dead annual plants and the weeds in the garden as well. It’s also a good time of year to take care of bulbs. Some bulbs will need to be removed and properly stored over the winter, such as gladiolus. Other types of bulbs can be planted for spring blooms like daffodils (my fave), hyacinths (another fave) and tulips (ok, who am I kidding? They are all my favorites!). It’s great to be able to look forward to the bright and cheerful flowers they will be in the spring!

It is not recommended to fertilize your plants at this time. Ideally, you should avoid fertilizing plants any time after late summer. This is because fertilizer can cause plants to push out new growth at the wrong time – being very susceptible to winter damage.

Another very important step is applying an anti-desiccant like Wilt-Pruf to evergreen shrubs such as Rhododendrons, Azaleas and Mountain Laurels, especially if they are new plantings. This will help the leaves retain moisture and prevent winter burn. Very delicate plants or plants in a high wind area may also need to be wrapped in burlap for extra protection.

After you have finished the steps above, you may also want to put a thin layer of mulch over the garden to ensure that your plants stay warm and cozy over the winter – just like you!

Now, when your yard and gardens are covered by snow and ice, you can be assured that they are well prepared!