During winter, your green pals take a hit from the winter weather. Cold and wind make unprotected plants thirsty. On top of that, soggy debris left on your commercial lawn can choke your turf.
Fortunately, you don’t have to wait for the cold season to end to maintain your landscape. You can follow these maintenance steps.
Irrigate Plants
Just because it’s winter doesn’t mean that you no longer have to water your plants. Your flora still requires sufficient moisture to remain healthy during their dormancy. If your plants get thirsty, they dry out and become more vulnerable to cold and wind damage.
You can prevent dehydration by giving your plants the water they need. If you’ve winterized your irrigation system, request a water truck and water your landscape during warm periods. Check with your commercial landscaping services provider to find out how they can help you with lawn irrigation.
Apply Mulch to Beds
Mulch regulates moisture and temperature in your lawn. Additionally, they can minimize frost heave, which pushes perennials out of the ground and causes them to die. Adding a thin layer of mulch gives extra protection for shrubs, perennials, and trees. Apply much to tree rings and landscape beds.
Keep Salt Away from Your Plants
Salt, along with ice melt products, can do a number on your plants and turf. So, keep your lawn as tidy as possible. If you notice any excess granules on your flora, do whatever you can to get rid of them.
If possible, see if you stop ice melt products from ending up on your turf. Consider using spreaders with guards to keep these products where they should be – on the pavement.
Don’t Cut Your Perennials
If you have coral bells, daylilies, and hostas on your commercial lawn, resist the temptation of trimming them. Even if they look shabby and unsightly, these perennials are still collecting nutrients they need for the coming spring. If you want to maintain these plants, you have to leave them alone.
Use to Oil Exterminate Pests in Your Plants
Have plants plagued by lace bugs, aphids, mites, and other creepy crawlies? Apply horticultural oil to eliminate these pests. Smothering these parasites with oil kills lingering insects and their eggs so that they won’t hatch during the spring.
Remove Leaves that End Up on Your Lawn
Your lawn needs to breathe. The grass on your lawn will suffocate if you leave decaying leaves on your lawn. On top of that, the decomposing leaves invite diseases and pests. Instead of letting these leaves rot any further, rake them out of your business space.
Consider Tree Wraps and Windbreaks
If you have tree trunks that have thin barks, such as maples, use tree wraps to help prevent sunscald. Besides these wraps, apply windbreaks to safeguard your plants from unwanted salt spray and gusts.
Taking these steps will help mitigate the lawn damage caused by cold and wind. If any damage occurs, make sure to cut off the damaged limbs to stop any further decline in plant health.