5 Tips for Preparing Your Garden Through Winter Ready for Spring

Winter in St. Louis, MO is cold and dry, which means you need to prepare your garden to survive the plunging temperatures and stay healthy for spring. In this article, we’ll go over 5 important tips to help you prepare your garden for winter, so that when spring arrives, you already have a head start on your landscaping plans

1

• Wrap plants, bushes, and small trees to protect them from freezing.

  Temperatures in St. Louis winters routinely fall between 20°F (-6°C) and 40°F (4°C), and plants like roses, hydrangeas, and crape myrtles are particularly susceptible to getting damaged in such conditions. Burlap is a great choice for a wrapping material, as it will keep your plants warm without suffocating them. Plus, it’s more environmentally friendly!

2

• Water the soil if the fall has been dry to protect from frost.

It may sound counterintuitive, but it’s good advice to water your soil before a cold weather snap to protect it from frost. According to the National Association of Landscape Professionals, moist soil holds more heat than dry soil does, which means frost won’t penetrate it as easily. Frost that seeps into your soils can freeze and kill your plants at the root, so water your lawn generously prior to a freeze to prevent that from happening.

3

• Fertilize the soil before the first freeze.

Fertilizing the soil not enriches the soil for spring planting, but it also helps your grass and other plants survive the winter and keeps them healthy. Apply a winter fertilizer (AKA a winterizer) to your lawn before the first frost (typically in late November), and choose a slow-release variety so it will keep working

4

• Prune tree branches to prevent them from breaking under snow and ice.

Though we don’t typically get much snow in St. Louis, the times we do get it, it tends to build up (along with ice) on our tree branches. The branches, unused to so much weight, may break off and damage not only your garden, but also any nearby structures and vehicles. To prevent such an accident, prune back your long tree branches (especially those near your home or electrical lines).

5

• Start hardscaping projects like firepits and patios.

Winter is an excellent time to begin hardscaping your garden. Your plants are all cozy in their beds and wraps for the cold weather, and they’re not doing much or any growing. That means you can dig up parts of your lawn, construct retaining walls, and lay brick and stone without disturbing any of your delicate plants. This is harder to accomplish during the spring when everything is blooming and your garden’s ecosystem is more easily disrupted.

With just the above simple tips, your garden will be well prepared to not only survive the winter but thrive until spring. And if you need assistance getting your garden ready for winter or planning a new hardscape design, Hackmann Lawn in St. Louis is at your beck and call. Contact us today at +1 636-688-6647 to schedule our services or get a free quote on your outdoor project.

And if you’re ready to take advantage of our highly rated outdoor landscaping and hardscaping service, sign  up your free quote online today.