How to Prep Your Yard for Winter

Winter is just around the corner, and now is the ideal time to prepare your yard for the cold months ahead. Certain tasks should be performed each fall to ensure that your yard is properly winterized so your landscaping can reach its full potential in the spring. Here’s what to put on your to-do list:

Continue lawn maintenance. Continue to mow your lawn throughout the fall until it stops growing. Fall is the time to aerate your yard to improve soil health and promote new growth in the spring. Reseed any bare spots and fertilize your lawn as well.

Clean up leaves and debris. Stay on top of falling leaves so they don't pile up in your yard. Leaf cover (especially wet leaves) can suffocate your yard and cause certain lawn diseases. Sticks, trimmings, fallen fruit, and dead annuals should also be collected from your yard and composted or disposed of as yard waste.

Protect plants. Colder weather can be harsh on certain trees and bushes. Wrap thin-barked trees with paper tree wrap, starting at the roots and going up to the lowest branches, to prevent the bark from splitting. Bushes can be covered with wire mesh screening to protect them from animals who may stop by for a snack.

Winterize ponds and water features. If you have a small pond or a water feature in your yard, winterize it to prevent damage and preserve its ecosystem. Start by draining the pond of water feature and cleaning the base. Remove the pump and store it indoors. Cover the top of ponds to prevent additional leaves and debris from falling and bring more minor water features indoors for the winter.

Mulch. Mulch isn’t just for the spring; it should be applied in the fall, too. By adding a layer of mulch around your landscaping, you'll protect the plants from cold weather. Spread the mulch around the base of the trees and shrubs, but don’t pile it too high. Surrounding the trunk with too much mulch can cause it to rot.

Plant bulbs, shrubs, and trees. Fall is the perfect time for planting cool-season flowers and bushes. These can provide a nice pop of color and a sign of life to your yard in the winter. Spring-blooming bulbs, such as crocuses, tulips, and daffodils, can also be planted in the fall. Cooler temperatures and increased moisture make the fall an excellent opportunity to grow or transplant trees.

The fall is also a great time to think about your ideal yard—landscaping, patios, water features, and more—and plan to achieve that dream. It's best to complete work in late winter or early spring to enjoy your yard once warm weather hits fully. If you have a landscaping project in mind for 2025, contact Dreamscape Designers today to discuss your new outdoor living space.