This is some wild weather we’re having. Across the country, just about anywhere you live, there have been waves of bitterly cold as well as uncommonly warm days. When you wake up in the morning you’re not sure if you’ll be chipping ice off your car or planning a picnic in the park.
One thing you can be certain of, though, is that your lawn and garden are not as confused about the season as you might be. Their growth cycles are determined more by the daily amount and quality of sunlight they get and to a lesser degree by temperature.
In mid-winter, when days are short and sunlight is in limited supply, deciduous trees are bare, flowering plants wait to bud and some lawns may go dormant to preserve their resources until the days lengthen, the sun’s rays intensify and they can soak up more of it for the process of photosynthesis that fuels their growth.
In the meantime, your lawn and garden still do need care. And if you take the time now to make sure all of it is in good order, you can keep everything healthy through the rest of the winter and resolve any problems before they escalate. You’ll be rewarded by a beautiful start to spring.
The Lawn
Even if it’s covered with snow and you barely remember what it looks like, it’s still there and more vulnerable than ever. Pick up any branches that may have fallen on it and do what you can to remove debris that’s weighing it down. Otherwise, avoid walking on snow-laden or soggy soil and never (you wouldn’t dare) drive on it. Applying pressure on frozen ground can kill turfgrass crowns and leave you with bare spots. It also compresses the soil, causing problems you’ll have to repair later.
If you don’t have snow, or if there’s a thaw between storms, there are a few more things you can do:
- Rake. Fallen leaves harbor insects and disease, sorake them up and dispose of them. Go gently, though, so you don’t take up the grass along with the leaves.
- Mow. Depending on where you live and what kind of turf you have, your grass will be growing slowly or be entirely dormant. It’s particularly important to mow cool season grasses like fine fescue, ryegrass, and bluegrass varieties so they don’t fall prey to snow mold. When you mow, leave clippings in place to serve as mulch to enrich the soil.
- Water. If your lawn isn’t getting at least an inch of water a week, it won’t be able to maintain itself regardless of the weather. Strange as it may sound, it’s also important to water before a freeze so that the root zone retains enough moisture to come through it.
Something else worth considering is hiring a professional lawn care service that will take all the work off your hands and keep your lawn in top shape throughout the whole year.
Trees And Bushes
Winter dormancy is the time to trim perennial plants and to prune shrubs, hedges and trees. There’s a wealth of material online that you can look to for guidance on pruning techniques for various plants and small trees. Large and high branches on mature trees are best left to pros who are adept at climbing and use appropriate safety equipment.
Planting Beds
If mulching got away from you earlier in the season, it’s not too late to lay some cover around all of your plants to protect their roots from harsh weather still ahead and to ward off weeds that will want to sprout as temperatures warm. Mulch does hold water, so to avoid rot, don’t cover the trunks of shrubs and trees.
Spring Color
If you can get a shovel in the ground, you can still plant bulbs in mid-winter for colorful spring blooms. Just plant them a little deeper and top them with straw for insulation. Alternatively, you can plant bulbs in almost any kind of container. Water them just enough to keep the soil damp and transplant them out into the garden later or simply let them grow and bloom where they are.
Now and for the next few months is also the perfect time to create a winter herb garden or start flower and vegetable seeds indoors. It’s a wonderful project to do with kids, and watching the seedlings sprout and grow is a welcome reminder that winter won’t go on forever.
Feature image: Hunter Harmon; Image 1: Jonathan Meyer
