Homeowner Landscaping Tips for January and February

Cold winter days can make you want to stay indoors all season long, even though you know you must provide some level of care and maintenance to the plants around your property. There’s good news: it’s not as labor intensive as it sounds. Below is a short garden guide from the best landscapers in Chazy, NY. It is filled with homeowner landscaping tips for the months of January and February, focusing on critical wintertime yard tasks.

January

January marks the start of another new year. Though typically cold and wet in most areas of the country, it’s not unusual to see homeowners outside on random sunny winter days prepping their landscape for the new growing season. Here are some professional suggestions for January prep:

• Look for damage and disease: This is the ideal time to take a close look at flowering trees and shrubs for signs of damaged, diseased and weak branches. Carefully trim off these tree parts.
• Prune: If you want to start shaping your flowering trees or keep an already-shaped tree looking its best, your best bet is to hire a professional. Trim fruit-bearing plants to encourage new, healthy growth.
• Flowerbeds: January is a good time to work flowerbeds. As long as the ground is not frozen or wet, gently turn the soil to aerate and expose insect eggs and old plant root systems.
• Mulch: Reapply a two- to three-inch layer of fresh mulch around shrubs and trees, taking care not to stack mulch material up against trunks. Add a little more to protect newer or more delicate plants.
• Lawns: Some tree leaves make excellent compost for grassy lawns in the fall and winter. However, too many leaves, kids’ toys and patio items lying on the ground for months on end can damage or kill grass and sensitive plants. Rake up some leaves toward the end of January so grass can breathe.

February

The air is still chilly in February, but things may be starting to warm up. The sun is testing out the sky, the ground is thinking about thawing out and you should be planning your new landscape design. Let’s take a look at some suggestions for February:

• Garden sales: Local garden centers are not as crowded in February, but this also means fewer plants in stock. The upside is preseason sales on plants, pots, planters, tools and other garden items.
• Grass treatment: February, toward the end of the month, is a good time to begin spring grass treatments, such as applying crabgrass preventer and fertilizer.
• Water: Even though it is winter, you must remember to water your plants, especially if there hasn’t been significant precipitation. Regular watering is very important for new plants and trees that are still working to establish their root systems.

If you want a solid start to an early spring landscape installation, then you seriously need to plan ahead. Call Rand Hill Lawns, Inc. to book the area’s best landscapers in Chazy, NY. We are here to help you maintain a beautiful yard all year round!

Categorised in: Landscapers