Winter Has Probably Trashed Your Yard….

What to look for

No matter how carefully we put our gardens and landscapes to bed for the winter – winter always manages to win out.  Snow covered the ground for more than four months (from early November through February).  Now the upside to this is little, if any, frost in the ground.  The downside is the potential for snow mold.  Snow mold is a fungus that can be white, pink or gray and is found in lawns when temperatures are just above freezing and in moist conditions.   The best way to tackle this problem is to let the lawn dry, then rake the areas before any fertilization is done.  That’s it.  Easy.

Snow mold patches

Winter de-icing materials are hard on turf

The damage done by de-icing materials and snow plows should be taken care of as soon as the warmer temperatures of spring arrive.  These areas will require a little TLC, fresh soil, and seed or sod.   Don’t just throw down seed or sod and call it done.  Remove the dead grass and any debris.  Level the area.  Add fresh black soil then seed or sod.  In the seeded areas, don’t use pre-emergents or strong fertilizers.  A starter fertilizer is recommended.  Don’t forget to water the new areas regularly.  And here’s a money-saving, water-saving tip:  It is not necessary or recommended to water your lawn during the month of May unless it remains dry and/or the temperatures climb into the 80s or 90s for long stretches at a time.

If you have paver patios, walkways, or driveways, a little spring maintenance may be necessary.  Check the joints.  Do you see spaces between the pavers where sand should be?  Fresh sand should be swept into the joints before wind-blown seeds take root.

Rodent Damage on Trees and Shrubs

Examine trees and shrubs for rodent damage.  Snow provided excellent cover for the rabbits and voles this year.  Damage, as seen in the picture above, prevents water and nutrients from moving upward- eventually starving the tree or shrub.  You might see a less vigorous plant this year then more so next year.   Depending on how much damage occurred, you may want to consider replacing the plant.

One more note:  drainage.  Did you happen to notice puddles where they shouldn’t be – such as walkways and driveways?  Think about tackling this problem before next winter.  Drain tile and catch basins can be installed to encourage water to go where you want it to go…away from the house and any hardscapes.

If you need help repairing any of these winter damage issues,  contact us.  Our landscape care crew will gladly tackle these spring chores for you!