Caring for your lawn and landscape during winter can be a slow start. It’s hard to stay motivated to perform winter yard care outside when it is so cold, especially here in the New River Valley. Our Back to Nature staff has been hard at work fulfilling both residential and commercial jobs for snow and ice removal. However, there is so much more that you can do for your yard besides shoveling snow. Our team of experts suggests these must-dos for winter yard care.

Guard against frigid temperatures by mulching

If you missed fall cleanup, there’s still a chance to protect your plants from heaving that is caused by the freezing and thawing of soil. Putting down about three inches of mulch after the ground begins to freeze will help. Shredded bark or straw make for great mulches but remember to not lay the mulch too close to stems or trunks. Back to Nature typically does mulching in the fall from August to October, but Spring Mulching is right around the corner from late February to May. Sign up early if you require assistance. 

Practice scheduled pruning before spring growth

We complete winter pruning from December to March, and this timeframe is based on proper horticultural practices. Pruning during this time frame leaves new cuts to plants exposed for a short amount of time before spring and new growth begins. We recommend performing pruning services at least two times a year. Back to Nature also does pruning in summer and fall.

Perform clean-up for ideal winter yard care

Snow mold is a real thing and a real threat to your yard. Leaving leaves to buildup on your lawn and adding snowfall on top of that can cause this grass-killing mold or at the very least smother your grass and stunt new growth. It’s a simple thing linked to a lot of impact, so make sure to invest in a nice rake or leaf blower. Another clean-up tip is to remove damaged or weak tree limbs that may break during a winter storm. If a tree becomes further damaged after a storm, it will be even more vulnerable to disease.

Protect young trees by wrapping them

Newly planted trees run the risk of damage by rodents that gnaw on and eat soft bark. This can be a real headache so install a wire mesh around the base of your young trees to protect them. Young ash or maple trees are also particularly vulnerable to sunscalding or cracking during winter because they are thin-barked. You can wrap these trees in burlap, tree wrap paper, or another type of wrap from the bottom to the top. You can later remove the wrap between late winter and early spring when temperatures start to get warmer. Read more about protecting your smaller plants from freezing temperatures in our previous blog.

Reach out for assistance when needed

If working outside in the cold turns out to not be your cup of tea, our experts at Back to Nature are here as a valuable resource. Look into our maintenance packages for residential or commercial, or if you only have a question or two, feel free to contact us on Facebook. We care about our Blacksburg and greater NRV communities, and we love what we do. We’re ready to solve any problems you may have.