Readying your landscape for a long winter’s nap
Wrap them up . . .
Winter weather is coming whether we like it or not, so now is the time to make sure you’ve got your bases covered- literally, in the case of any vulnerable shrubs and trees, especially evergreens. The best way for them to spend the winter is wrapped with a protective layer of burlap. This guards against winter burn, in a similar theory to your ski parka- helps them avoid depleted soil moisture and harsh winter sunlight. Ice storms can also wreak havoc, especially to upright evergreens. Heavy ice can cause branches to bend over or even break off, leaving you with sad, asymmetrical trees that can be unattractive. Wrapping lets us avoid that by keeping the branches together and supported, and also provides another layer of defense from hungry deer looking for a meal.
. . . and tuck them in!
The last thing we need is for the yard that we spent summer and fall caring for to become an uneven, root-filled surface thanks to the freeze-thaw cycles that come with winter. Luckily, there’s an easy way to work to prevent it- just put on a layer of mulch once the ground has frozen. This helps prevent heaving, which happens when the moisture in the soil expands with the freeze and then slips through with the thaw, loosening roots and pushing them above the surface. This makes for a tripping hazard for us, and can hurt the plant, since it’s exposing it to damaging temperatures and wind. The insulating mulch creates a more steady temperature, keeping plants in a dormant state that also helps them conserve their energy for true spring, rather than blooming during short spurts of warmer weather!
Contact Gerbert & Sons to finalize your property’s winter preparations.
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