Our area doesn’t experience the harsh winters that many others do, but it’s still important to protect your landscaping. You want your trees, shrubs, and perennials to look amazing once spring arrives. You can achieve this goal by following a few simple tips.
Utilize Protective Covers and Insulation
It’s important to cover tender plants whenever there’s a frost warning. This includes your succulents, citrus, and fuchsias. Use a breathable fabric. Old blankets, frost cloths, and burlap are all great options.
Not only do these coverings keep frost from settling on your trees, shrubs, and plants, but they also trap ground heat. Extend your covers all the way to the ground. This helps capture the natural warmth of the soil.
Soil Care and Hydration
Keeping the soil damp will help it hold more heat. This insulates the roots of your plants and trees. Do your watering in the late afternoon before the temperature drops.
Mulching further insulates the roots and helps stabilize ground temperatures. Apply 2 to 4 inches of mulch around all trees, shrubs, and perennials. Use organic materials, such as wood chips, straw, or bark.
You’ll need to adjust your irrigation during the winter season. Reduce the frequency of watering, but continue to provide newly planted trees with deep watering. This is especially important if rainfall is low.
Special Care Just for Trees
Young or thin-barked trees need extra protection against sunscald or frost cracks. Wrap their trunks with light-colored tree wraps. You may need to add supplemental heat to sensitive trees. This would be your citrus or tropical species. In some cases, a professional may add gentle supplemental heat using outdoor-rated incandescent lights placed carefully within the canopy. This will slightly raise the surrounding temperature.
You can prevent storm damage with regular pruning from your local tree service company. They’ll remove dead or diseased branches, but they’ll wait until spring to trim frost-damaged limbs. That extra foliage will act as insulation.
Perennial and Potted Plant Care
Work with an expert for cutting back perennials and potted plants, as they will always be cautious. If you have a herbaceous perennial, such as a California fuchsia, they will cut it to the ground. They’ll go brown as winter approaches. A professional will advise you not to cut back your woody perennials, such as lavender, until spring.
Move potted plants to a sheltered area. This could be the garage, a porch, or along a south-facing wall. Clustering these plants together allows them to share their heat. It also reduces their exposure to dry winds.
These winter tips will protect your trees, shrubs, and perennials. Once spring arrives, they’ll be healthy and look stunning. You can also call Maguire Tree Care, Inc. in San Carlos, CA for professional tree care that will further enhance your landscaping.
