Winter Yard Maintenance Checklist

There's a good chance you'll be going on snowmobiles, skiing, hiking and other outdoor activities outdoor this season, however don't put off yard maintenance simply because you're enjoying yourself. Make sure your yard is protected to spring by using these handy winter yard maintenance checklists that are suitable for snowy and non-snowy weather.

Winter Yard Maintenance for snowy climates

If you reside in Canada or in the Northern United States, follow this checklist:

• Do winter cleanup by removing dead leaves and other debris If you weren't able to get enough time to clean your garden in autumn.
• Make sure you are on top of the removal of snow and ice melting efforts to ensure that your sidewalks and driveways safe. Be careful not to walk on grass that has been covered in snow as heavy footfalls compact the soil which makes it difficult for the grass to grow during spring.
• Install or renew or replace the mulch in your flower beds, and then refresh your borders in the event that the soil isn't frozen (soil temperature greater that 32 degrees). Two to four inches mulch or straw, bark or leaves protect the soil and helps to limit root damage caused by freeze-thaw cycle.
• Take away dead, diseased or injured plants. Then wait until spring to replace them.
• Bring potted perennials indoors when possible, or transplant them to the garden.
• Protect fragile plant life using burlap, or the frost-proof fabrics to guard against damage from freezing.
• Prune dormant plants and trees. Take branches that are diseased or dead first. Next, beginning in the center and working out reduce the canopy in order to improve the circulation of air and encourage healthy growth that is healthy and new in spring.
• Get rid of annuals in your garden when they die, root and everything else.
• Reduce ornamental grasses to make a tidy winter garden.
• Get rid of your outdoor Christmas lights when the season has ended.
• Apply "dormant" oil for horticulture. It kills pests that overwinter such as aphids, scale and some mites. It's more eco-friendly than conventional insecticides, and is not harmful to beneficial wildlife and insects.



Winter Yard Maintenance in Non-Snow Climates

If you reside in a climate where snow is not common or not present, consider this list:

• Mow and trim the lawn every month, or more often if the grass continues to grow throughout the winter season in the area you live.
• Overseed grass in warm season once nighttime temperatures are consistently to below 65 degrees F (18 degree C).
• Take away debris and blowing off leaves every month or as often as.
• Install or replace or replace the the mulch within your garden beds, and then refresh your borders. In warmer climates, this can reduce the evaporation rate, protects the roots, stifles the growth of weeds and also reduces erosion.
• Replace dead, diseased or damaged plants in order to improve the overall appearance and health the winter landscape.
• Prune trees and plants in the winter months.
• Apply winter herbicides to keep weeds under control. There are pre-herbicides that can be used for stopping the growth of weeds and post-herbicides for tackling the weeds that have begun to increase in size.
• Apply an oil for horticulture. It kills the overwintering insects, such as scale, aphids, as well as certain mites. It's more eco-friendly than conventional insecticides and does not harm beneficial wildlife and insects.
• Reduce rose bush as well as shrubs and other perennials to about a couple of inches higher than the ground.
• Eliminate dead blossoms from the annual flowers, a procedure referred to as deadheading.
• Incorporate fertilizers into the lawn as well as perennials every season.
• Examine or upgrade your watering system to maximize its effectiveness according to the watering requirements of your yard.
• Remove your outdoor Christmas lights after the holiday season has ended.