Any keen gardener will know that the first few weeks of Spring are often dedicated to undoing the damage and exposure of winter. Now, that’s not to say your garden will look like a hurricane has passed through it, but frozen ground can crack, grass can sometimes die, plants can take some love to recover, weeds may need to be pulled, and just the general lack of attention in this space could have its own impact.
But of course, as we’re in the middle of winter right now, there may be some habits you can use to reduce the damage and, thus, the work you have to focus on as the warmer weather comes back. With that in mind, please consider some of the following advice to consider the best possible result:
Furniture Damage
Furniture is usually the first thing that looks awful when the garden starts to be illuminated by the spring sun. Snow, ice, and freezing temperatures can cause wood to crack, metal to rust, and cushions to become damp or moldy if they’re left out. If you want to keep your furniture in good shape, it’s worth investing in protective covers or moving the pieces into a shed or garage for the season just in case. Sure they’ll have a few cobwebs and might not look like their best selves, but a clean-down or even repainting can help you restore them if they’re old.
Guttering & Water Runoff
Winter can put a strain on your garden’s drainage system, especially if gutters become clogged with leaves, ice, or debris. The last thing you want to deal with is an annoying water pool when you’re trying to recover from the winter blues. Blocked gutters are good to address if you want to prevent water from pooling around your property, which can erode soil, flood flower beds, and even harm your home’s foundation. Not fun.
Plants & Grass
Your garden’s greenery can struggle during the colder months, but a little prep can save you from an uphill battle when you return to the garden. Some choose to aerate the soil before the ground freezes, which helps water drain properly and prevents it from compacting too much. You can also add mulch to flower beds, and around the base of trees provides insulation and protects roots from freezing temperatures, which can keep them in good condition. Though, of course, winter is winter, and you can’t expect to keep everything green unless it’s, well, evergreen. Just tidy what you can and when you can.
Pool Hygiene
If you have a pool, winter maintenance is key to avoiding a major cleaning job later. Before the freeze sets in, make sure to lower the water level and add the necessary chemicals to keep the pool balanced because this can prevent it from becoming mushy and gross (to use technical terms) when you return to use it. Using well-sized pool cover will protect the surface from debris and reduce the buildup of algae on top of that. Now, no pool comes out from the winter as pristine as it would have been, so using a pool cleaning service to help polish up the issues can be worthwhile.
With this advice, we hope you can more easily avoid the damage that gardens usually experience in winter, all for the better.