As the holiday season approaches, many homeowners are turning their attention to lighting, decorations, and hosting entertaining gatherings. However, maintaining your outside plants is just as crucial. Heavy foot traffic and winter weather can put a strain on your landscape. Practice a few simple care steps to keep your yard healthy and looking its best.
Prepare Your Plants for Seasonal Changes
If you still have time before the temperatures drop, get your plants ready for winter’s challenges. Even if winter is approaching, start your preparation by clearing fallen leaves. Follow that with pruning damaged or dead branches. Wrap things up by adding a fresh layer of mulch; this will retain moisture, insulate the soil, and protect plant roots from sudden temperature fluctuations.
Move potted plants closer to your house for extra warmth and shelter. Placing them under a covered area can also help. Is your area prone to frost? If so, consider buying breathable frost cloths and wrapping sensitive perennials and shrubs. This is a simple step, but it can make the difference between damage and survival when your property is hit with an unexpected cold snap.
Mind Your Holiday Decorations
Outdoor ornaments, lights, and displays add festive charm and create a welcoming landscape to visiting family and friends. In trying to brighten up your street, you might unintentionally stress your plants. Avoid using heavy lights or wires that might damage branches when decorating your trees and shrubs. Use LED lights; they emit less heat, reducing the risk of drying foliage out.
Manage Moisture and Irrigation Wisely
Most plants need less water during the winter. However, consistent hydration is still necessary, particularly in a region with dry winter air. Routinely check soil moisture levels. When the top few inches are dry, water deeply. Shallow watering can actually backfire because it encourages weak root growth. Just remember to turn sprinklers off before freezing nights so you don’t risk ice damage to both your plants and the irrigation lines serving them.
After the Holidays
Once the holidays are over, promptly remove your decorations. This prevents breakage or long-term pressure. It’s also a better chance for your plants to recover and start growing naturally as the weather begins to warm up again.
Maintain Beauty and Balance Year-Round
Caring for your landscape can make a good impression on guests visiting your home during the holidays, but it also keeps your outdoor space healthy and fresh throughout the year. If you live in San Carlos, CA, and want to preserve your landscape’s beauty and health this holiday season, contact West Coast Tree Care for specialized plant care and maintenance services you can trust all year long.
