Not every region of the country has to contend with a harsh winter every year. Some are fortunate enough not to suffer snow and extreme cold. That means that you may be required to perform some extra maintenance.
February provides a great opportunity for you to begin thinking about your lawn and garden and make plans for the next growing season. For example, like some gardeners no matter the region, you may not be satisfied with the status quo for next year. If not, decide on which shrubs and plants you want to keep, which you want to replace, and what you want to replace with.
Even if you live in a warm climate during winter, the lawn and plants will be dormant. Take advantage of the condition to perform much needed maintenance.
(Courtesy: Prateek Rungta at flickr.com)
You probably know that grass goes dormant during the winter months. That’s even the case if you are lucky to live in a warm climate. Don’t be concerned if some or all of your grass turns brown. That’s a normal occurrence. Don’t fertilize the lawn during the winter. When spring arrives, the grass will probably become active and will showcase a nice shade of green. However, you can take advantage of the brown color of the lawn to seek out weeds. They are much easier to spot. When you see a weed, simply hand-pull it out of the ground or apply herbicide. Before using herbicide make certain that it is compatible with your type of grass or you may be killing it.
The winter months are ideal for pruning deciduous plants. They are dormant and the act of pruning can help to encourage new growth once the spring arrives In addition, the structure of branches may be easier to see on dormant trees. When starting winter pruning consider the 3D rule — is it dead, damaged or diseased? If you find a branch that suffers any one of these Ds, remove it. If you leave them there is more of chance the shrub or tree could suffer more damage or insect invasion.
Finally, reduce how much you water plants and lawn. In fact, lawn care experts suggest that you “greatly” reduce watering. The plants, grass and shrubs are dormant during the winter and need only a little water. Too much watering could result in oversaturation. Here’s a rule to follow on this issue. Poke your finger into the ground up to the second joint. If the land is dry, water. Soak roots and then leave things alone for the next two or three weeks.
