Cold weather yard prep checklist for Charleston, SC

We haven’t yet seen much winter weather in Charleston, but we know it’s coming. If you haven’t already taken steps to protect your landscape for the months ahead, LandOne Group has a cold weather yard prep checklist for Charleston, SC, and the surrounding areas.

● Clean up. Remember your spring cleaning routine inside your home? You give everything a good cleaning. Do the same outside. Pick up all the clutter in your yard, on your patio and deck, and along your walk and then sweep the surfaces. Rake the yard and gardens to remove any debris. Decaying debris is unhealthy for your grass and plants.
● Pull the weeds. Don’t allow weeds to get a long winter’s rest. They feed off the nutrients that your lawn and plants should have. Pull them now to discourage spring growth.
● Cover delicate plants. Protect your vegetables, fruit trees, flowering shrubs, and anything that doesn’t tolerate cold weather. Cover them with burlap or blankets.
● Mow your lawn shorter. Gradually cut your lawn to a shorter height. This prevents small animals and pests from burrowing there. A shorter lawn will also better survive the cold weather and allow it to bounce back in the spring.
● Adjust your watering schedule. When the temperature drops, your lawn won’t be as thirsty. Reduce the frequency and amount of water for your lawn. Overwatering in any season prevents the grass from absorbing enough vitamins and oxygen.
● Insulate gardens with fresh mulch. Adding a layer of fresh mulch will insulate your plants and their roots, like a warm blanket. This step also protects against decay and pest infestation.
● Aerate your lawn. Over the summer and fall, your lawn’s soil becomes compacted. That means it’s more difficult to absorb necessary nutrients. Aerating will loosen the soil and enable the roots to take in the water, nutrients, and fertilizer to get through the cold months ahead.
● Fertilize. Ideally, you should fertilize your lawn in the fall. Like a bear preparing for a long hibernation, extra food will not go undigested! If you haven’t yet experienced a frost, there’s still time to effectively fertilize your lawn.

Take these steps now to prepare your yard for cold weather and you’ll have less work to do in the spring—a time when you want to sit back, relax, and enjoy your outdoor living space!

If you need help getting your yard ready for winter, contact us. LandOne Group provides professional landscaping services for both residential and commercial properties in the Charleston, SC, area.