It's not easy being green, especially if you're trying to survive a brutal Canadian winter. The fluctuating temperatures from being shorts and teeshirt weather one day to 6 cm of snow the next doesn't make it easy to prepare for what's coming next.
We've got some winter landscape tips to help make sure your greenery doesn't give you the winter blues.
Keep reading to learn how you can keep your yards, shrubs, trees, and gardens safer and looking good even when mother nature throws all she's got at them.
Preparing For Winter
You can save yourself a lot of hassle and money in the spring if you prepare for winter before it hits. Before meteorologists start giving frost warnings you'll want to give your outdoor space some TLC in the fall to prepare it for winter.
Trees and Bushes
There are some things you can do to ensure your trees make it through the winter and are healthier in the spring.
- avoid pruning but remove any branches that are broken or diseased
- place mulch around the base of each (about 5-6cm deep)
- wrap fruit, rhododendrons, azaleas, etc. in burlap or protective cloth
- wrap young tree trunks to avoid sun scalding, or in rural areas deer and animals stripping the bark
Evergreens and other coniferous trees not only add colour to your landscaping in winter but provide shelter for winter birds.
Gardens
You can make your life easier and your garden healthier in the spring by preparing it properly for winter.
- dig bulbs up, remove debris and old mulch
- cut perennial stems to approximately 15 cm from ground
- place a layer of mulch, evergreen boughs, hay or use floating row covers over any flower beds
Take any potted plants that are not made to survive winter inside before the first frost.
Many people have added a water feature such as a fountain or pond to their backyard oasis.
- drain and clean any fountains
- move to storage or cover
- remove the pump and other detachable features
- check any thermometers, heaters or pumps for ponds
If there are fish in the pond be sure to take proper measures to make sure they are healthy and safe during the winter. Some fish may not be able to withstand the cold and snow of a Canadian winter while others will practically sleep right through it.
Lawns and Walkways
Ensure your walkways are even and clear obstacle that someone could hurt themselves by tripping over after it starts to snow.
- rake leaves
- cut grass to approx. 6 cm, clippings will recycle 25% of nitrogen back into the lawns soil.
- aerate, seed and fertilize the lawn
- ensure any debris or objects are put away for safer, easier snow removal
Taking these steps will keep your gardens, trees and lawns healthier and easier to tend in the spring.
Planting for Winter Landscape Tips
There are some shrubs, trees, and plants that can survive and add some colour and beauty to your yard even in a Canadian winter. Choosing the right greenery is 3/4 of the battle when wanting your landscaping to be healthy and aesthetically pleasing all year long.
Some smart Canadian choices include:
- most evergreens, conifers and dioecious shrubs
- Holly shrubs and red dogwoods
- Cranberry bush, winterberry, and bayberry shrubs
- Paper, yellow and weeping birch trees
- winged and emerald euonymus
These choices along with others will add durability, colour, and berries to attract birds. Most require very little care or attention throughout the winter and may only need the occasional pruning in the spring.
Grab a Timmie's and Call in the Pros
If after reading our winter landscape tips you decide you want a beautiful lawn but don't have the time, energy, or know-how to do it yourself call in the professionals.
You sit back and keep warm while we do all the work.
