Temperatures in Southern Oregon are starting to drop. Are your outdoor plants and landscaping prepared to survive the winter? Now’s the time to start getting ready for beautiful springtime front and backyards by spending a day or two getting your plants settled for the next few months. Winterizing your yard is the best way to protect the investment you’ve made in your landscaping all year long.
Put down new mulch. Mulch does more than make your yard look neat and tidy. Mulch is an insulator to help keep your plants warm over the winter. Add three to four inches of mulch around the base of plants and trees. - Dig up non-wintering bulbs. Some bulbs aren’t hardy enough to survive over the winter well, particularly in very cold and snowy conditions. Examples include canna, dahlia, elephant ears, gladiolus, calla lily, and tuberous begonias. Ask your local landscaping professionals for advice about bulbs in your yard. Store them in a dark, cool place in a paper bag.
- Rake your leaves. Leaves can make a good mulch, but leaves left on your grass over the winter can damage your lawn. A soggy layer of leaves will suffocate the grass, and snow on top of the leaves can promote mold growth. Pile your leaves in an unused portion of your yard instead–the wildlife in your area will use them for warmth over the winter.
- Cut roses back. It’s time to give your roses a good trim. Most roses can be trimmed back to about a foot or so from the ground. Landscaping professionals can give you tips for cutting back the types of roses in your garden. Cover rose bases with mulch to keep roots warm in cold temperatures.
- Aerate your yard. Aeration devices poke holes down into the ground. The process helps break up compacted dirt so water can be absorbed more easily. This will allow roots to reach water more easily and get the nourishment they need to be ready for growth in the spring.
- Fertilize your grass. October and November are the best months to apply a winterizing fertilizer to your yard. As the weather cools, grass stops focusing on growing its blades and focuses on establishing stronger roots. Winterizing fertilizers help nurture the roots so they will be strong and healthy come springtime.
- Clean your tools. While this isn’t really a part of your yard, it’s a good winter landscaping tip. After you’re done with your yardwork, clean your tools thoroughly, allow them to dry completely, and wipe them down with linseed oil before storing them in your shed or garage.
Put down new mulch. Get everything you need for winterizing your yard at Hilton Landscape Supply.
If it goes in your yard, you can probably find it at Hilton Landscape Supply! Whether your garden needs a fresh load of soil, a new layer of mulch, or the best fertilizers and nutrients for your area, Hilton Landscape Supply is the place to go. We’ve been serving Southern Oregon and Northern California since 1956, so we know what works best for growing healthy plants and vegetation in our regions. Stop by our retail store in Central Point or contact us for more information about all the products we carry to enhance your garden and outdoor living areas.