For homeowners who have beautiful gardens in their homes, winter often turns out to be a dreadful time. The low temperatures of the season, together with frost, can easily kill your plants and ruin the garden. However, there are certain techniques that you could use to help your plants make it through the winter. At DNS Landscaping, we happen to be a reputed landscaping company offering a wide range of services. Our experts can prepare your garden for the winter by implementing the right methods for it. 

How can you help your plants survive the cold?

To make sure that your plants survive the cold winter, you would essentially have to prepare them beforehand. Here are some tips for the pre-winter preparations:

1. Apply a layer of mulch

One cannot possibly overstate the importance of mulching in maintaining soil temperatures. By keeping the soil consistently cold, mulch can prevent repeated freeze-thaw cycles, which cause the soil to heave out the plants.  

2. Use up your compost and prepare a fresh batch

The compost prepared since summer should be ready by winter. Apply this compost to your garden to make sure that plants receive adequate nutrition during the cold months. Not only would it protect your plants, but it would also ensure rapid growth in spring. 

3. Consider hiring professional services

When it comes to protecting plants against the extremes of weather, nothing beats professional services. With plenty of experience in this field, a professional landscaping company can ready your soil and vegetation for winter. 

4. Wrap up your plants

If you have recently planted trees that are still young and have thin bark, consider covering them up with burlap or thick paper tree wrap. The wrapping would protect the trees from the snow as well as rodents. You may uncover the plants again during the early stages of spring. 

5. Prune plants at the right time

While pre-winter pruning is beneficial for some plants, it’s not the same case for every tree in your garden. Pruning some plants around this time can cause them to die or fail to flower during spring. If unsure, always consult a professional before pruning the vegetation in your garden. 

Is it safe to use de-icers to protect your plans from the cold?

Applying de-icers over the ice might sound like a good idea to keep your grass and landscaping plant safe. While it does work, you have to be careful about the type of de-icer you use. Many homeowners make the mistake of using salt de-icers. Salt-based solutions actually kill the plants by leaching moisture from their cells. An expert can help you choose the right de-icer and determine how frequently to apply it. 

How to save the plants that cannot survive the cold?

Tender plants like dahlias and elephant ears cannot survive the cold winter months. The best way to protect these plants is to dig them up after the first hard frost, before the ground starts freezing. Store them away during the coldest months and replant them next year. 

Our team at DNS Landscaping would be happy to provide you with any guidance or assistance you need. If you need our team to help you winterize your plants, just give us a call at (210) 765-8667.