If you’re a typical homeowner in Charlotte, you spent the summer months enjoying your outdoor area, from barbecues in the patio to lazy evenings in the garden or weekends at the lawn. Once the cooler weather comes, foliage starts to change color, it is time to start thinking about putting your landscape to bed for the winter.
“Winter prep? We hardly get snow in Charlotte,” I hear you thinking. And you are right—we have it easy compared to our northern friends. But we shouldn’t ignore our landscapes before the incumbent cold. The occasional hard freeze, ice storm and temperature swing can be damaging for unprepared plants and lawns.
The good news? A little effort now will pay huge dividends come spring. Your yard will recover quicker, your plants will be more vibrant, and you will avoid wasting time, money, and effort as the weather warms. Therefore, grab some coffee (or hot chocolate) and let’s montage through everything you should do to winterize your Charlotte landscape.
Start with Your Lawn
Your lawn has been busy all year long, and it’s time to do something for it before it sleeps. In Charlotte, we’re in that area where you can grow both warm season and cool season grasses. As such, the lawn care this fall is important.
Before the first frost, cut your grass one last time. Lower the mower blade about half an inch more than normal. This prevents the issue of snow mold in Charlotte and also keeps grass from matting down under fallen leaves. Don’t mow it too short—about 2 to 2.5” is good for most grass types.
If overseeding and aerating has not yet been done, late fall is your final chance. Aeration reduces soil compaction making it easier for water, nutrients, and oxygen to reach roots. If you have cool-season grass such as fescue, (which is popular here in Charlotte), than overseeding now is an effective practice that will help you to fill in those bare spots for a lush lawn next spring.
Apply winter fertilizer because it is the most vital thing you can do to your grass before winter. Applying a slow-release fertilizer in late October or November will strengthen root systems and give your grass the nutrients it requires so that it survives winter. Think of it as a vitamin boost before hibernation.
Protect Your Plants and Trees
Our Charlotte landscapes incorporate beautiful azaleas, camellias, crepe myrtles, and other ornamentals that may need a little help when the temperature drops.
Help your plants by adding a fresh layer of mulch around their roots; it’s helpful to cover their root areas to hold moisture and add nutrients. Cover trees, shrubs and perennials with 2 to 3 inches of organic mulch. Just be sure not to place it right next to the trunks and stems. Leaving a few inches of space will prevent rot from taking hold. Using mulch helps the soil stay warm and also keeps it moist. On top of that, it makes your beds look neat and tidy all winter long.
Keep watering your plants and garden as long as the weather allows but before the first freeze, make sure you water your plants deeply. It might rain in winter and watering your plants deeply will ensure that they are hydrated this whole winter season. Plants that are well-hydrated suffer far less cold stress than thirsty plants. Be extra careful with evergreens, as they lose moisture through their needles all winter.
If you have tender tropicals or plants that are borderline hardy in our zone (7b-8a), consider wrapping them with burlap or frost cloth when the temperatures are forecast below 25°F. Palms, hydrangeas, bananas and citrus tree need to be protected extra.
You may want to prune for a larger crop. It is a good idea to remove dead, diseased or damaged branches in late fall. However, major pruning on spring-flowering shrubs like azaleas and forsythia should really be avoided, as you will just lose next year’s blooms. Save heavy pruning for late winter or early spring.
Don’t Forget Your Irrigation System
This is one area that homeowners in Charlotte often drop the ball, and it can be costly. Although our winters are relatively mild, we can still get the odd night in the teens or low twenties that could damage irrigation parts.
Have an expert remove all water by blowing compressed air through your irrigation lines. Any water that is frozen in the pipelines can expand and crack the pipes and sprinkler heads. This small investment can save you hundreds or even thousands in repairs come spring.
Use insulation tape or foam covers to wrap backflow preventers and exposed pipes. Your system is most vulnerable at these places and they are usually the costliest to replace.
Drain and store hoses from outdoor faucets for the winter. Disconnect them. If you can, turn off the water to the outside faucets from the inside of the house and drain it.
Tackle Those Leaves
Nevertheless, every beautiful foliage will eventually mess up your yard, home, and street. If left on your lawn, they can smother the grass and serve as a breeding ground for disease and pest.
Raking and mulching regularly, you don’t have to wait until every leaf has fallen. In fact, it’s better if you don’t. Never let leaves collect and mat down the grass. Sunlight must reach your grass. Using a mulching mower, you can shred thin layers of leaves and leave them on your lawn as a free fertilizer.
Don’t rake leaves. Compost or bag them for black gold in your garden. You can start a compost pile or bag them up for your municipality’s yard waste pickup. Never blow leaves into the storm drain and natural areas as it is bad for the environment and may be illegal too.
Make sure to clear out your gutters and downspouts of any vegetative debris. When winter rain and ice come, it is the properties of the house which suffers the damage due to clogged gutters. These are some of the most common damages: Roof damage, Ice dams, Damage to foundation.
Prepare Your Hardscape
Your patios, decorative walkways, and outdoor living spaces need attention too.
Use a power washer on your deck, patio, and pavers to clean and seal them. If you have a wooden deck, you might want to apply a new coat of sealant to protect it from winter moisture. Before water enters and freezes, check for cracks on your stone or concrete and do the required repairs.
Put away or cover the outdoor furniture. Remove cushions and lightweight furniture if possible. For patio furniture that you leave outside invest in good covers to protect from the elements Clean your grill and cover it. You can also store it in the garage.
Make sure to replace any burned-out bulbs in your outdoor landscape lighting, and ensure your timers are adjusted for shorter days. The paths need to be always well-lit especially during winters when it gets dark so early.
Garden Bed Maintenance
Your flower beds and vegetable patches must be properly put to sleep.
Reduce the number of perennials. Remove dead foliage from most perennials, however, leave ornamental grasses and plants with interesting seed heads to provide winter interest and food for birds. Cut back to about 3-4 inches above the ground.
Now’s the last opportunity to plant your spring bulbs, including tulips, daffodils, and crocuses, if you haven’t done so yet. They need the cold period to bloom properly in spring.
Make sure to take care of those young trees. Newly planted trees are more susceptible to winter damage. If necessary, stake them. Use tree wrap on trunks to prevent sun scald and rodent damage. Water well before the ground freezes.
One Last Thing: Plan Ahead
While doing your winterizing job, take note of what works and does not work this year. Notice any areas with drainage problems? Spots where plants struggled? A fresh snow or cold winter day is perfect for planning spring landscape projects.
Your Charlotte Landscape Partner
It might seem daunting to winterize your landscape, especially if you are doing it for the first time. However, it doesn’t have to be a one-person job. Whether you need help with just one aspect—like that all-important winter fertilization—or you’d prefer to hand off the entire checklist to the pros, the experts at https://www.hyattlandscape.com who have been helping Charlotte homeowners protect and beautify their outdoor spaces for years.