Did you know that the secret to a beautiful lawn in the spring and summer months is proper care for your yard during the fall and winter months? Yes, this might sound strange, as very little growth and development occurs during these months. In fact, you might notice that your yard actually seems to look a little worse for wear during these times. The truth is, though, that the cooler times of the year are essential prep times for your lawn and garden to ensure beautiful growth and attractive foliage come springtime. Not sure how to achieve these results? If your lawn and garden has been lacking the past few years without any explanation, then it just might be that you need to pay more attention to your yard during periods of slow growth, a.k.a. the fall and winter months. Never fear, as we have outlined 3 things you need to know about yard care and landscaping in Reno during colder months to ensure a great yard in the warmer months.
3 Ways to Prep Your Yard during Cooler Months
Now that you know how important the cooler months are for a healthy lawn, it is time to discover how you can make the most of this time and achieve fantastic results for the spring and summer months. Below we have compiled some things that you need to know and some tips to heed during cooler months to ensure a beautiful lawn and a prolific garden in the springtime.
- Cool weather fertilization is key to spring growth: Most homeowners get anxious about their lawn in the dog days of summer. The grass looks dull and lifeless, and it rarely needs cutting. Many people take this to mean that their lawn needs a boost in nutrients, and they will end up fertilizing midsummer. Your lawn can go through a short dormancy phase during the hottest summer months, and this is to protect growth and to make the most of what moisture is available. You will need to be very careful when fertilizing your lawn at this time because it can also be damaging to your lawn, prompting it to produce foliage when it doesn’t have the required water to do so. It is ok to fertilize midsummer as long as the lawn has a sufficient amount of water. There are different types of fertilizer for different months of the year.
- Putting your garden to bed is not optional: Many people get lazy with their gardens as the weather cools down. Your plants have slowed down or stopped producing altogether, and in all likelihood you are tired of caring for your lawn at this point. It is tempting to neglect your garden and simply wait for the first frost to kill your plants and for snow to cover the soil. However, putting your garden to bed is not an optional cool weather activity; it is essential to a healthy garden come springtime! Leaving dead plants in the soil over the winter months may result in rot and disease growth. You may also see a revival of pests and insects that will kill your tender young plants next spring. Putting your garden to bed is the best way to prevent disease and pest infestations for next growing season.
Just because a plant is a perennial does not mean it will come back next year: If you do not properly care for your perennial plants in cool weather, you are risking a total loss of the plant during freezing weather. You should cut back all dry stems to soil level, as this will prevent disease and pest growth. Mulching is a great way to protect your perennials from winter kill, but make sure that you do not do so until the first frost. This will make sure no rodents nest in the soil and kill your plant