Does a landscape contractor continue landscape maintenance in winter in Lebanon, PA? Let’s look at what can be done even when the leaves fall and the ground seems frozen. The cool air might preclude clients from thinking about landscape work, but there is much to be done to ensure that your clients’ landscape thaws and emerges from hibernation healthy and ready to grow back to beautiful colors in the spring.
Hardscape and Deck Maintenance
These steps must be done before snow starts flying, although busted paver stones can be replaced whenever is necessary. Your clients have made excellent use of their patio or deck throughout the summer season. As the fun starts to move inside, what better time to start cleaning off any fallen leaves, dirt, or various debris that holds water. During the freeze and thaw cycles, this water will enable mold and mildew especially on wood surfaces.
Once cleaned, it’s time to inspect your clients’ patio or deck for damage. Start by replacing busted pavers and stones, fix any seals that have come undone. If asphalt or poured concrete is beyond a quick fix, it’s time to replace the surface. To ensure nothing gets damaged during freeze and thaw cycles, powerwash the surfaces if any debris piles up.
Damage Control and Planning Ahead
Your clients have noticed all the areas of their landscape that have fallen into hardship. Time to ask whether the spring or summer weather led to some damage. Maybe the plants didn’t really take over the season and it’s time for a refresh. Maybe a section of the lawn needs to be replaced with new sod or xeriscaped into a more diverse landscape. Maybe it’s time to call in pest control. It’s time to ask all these questions to come out ahead in the spring.
Gutter Cleaning
Cleaning out gutters is essential as leaves or other debris can clog the drainage pipes. As decaying leaves pile up in the fall and winter, the mess inside the drainage pipes could prevent snowmelt or rain from going where it’s intended. Worse, it could become a fire hazard when everything dries up in the summer and could potentially cause a fire. Make sure those gutters are cleaned!
Plant Care
Especially if the summer was extra hot and dry, your clients’ trees and plants may be stressed to the point where they have trouble rebounding in the spring and fighting off pests, disease, and another hot and dry summer. The plants need a slow-release fertilizer that rejuvenates them and adds depleted nutrients. Keep watering often during the fall so that plants and soil can retain moisture throughout the winter. Make sure to prune and trim any trees, shrubs, or weakened plants so they can divert their energy to their root systems. Lastly, aerate and refresh the mulch in your clients’ plant beds to give them extra insulation during the cold months.
Weed and Pest Control
Even during harsh months of cold and hibernation, weeds and pests don’t waste any time trying to take over and damage your clients’ plants. Make sure to check for weed and pest issues in the fall to notice late-germinating weeds and any pests that may have survived.
Snow Removal Contract
Make sure your clients have a snow removal contract in place for when winter starts so that no matter how much snow falls, there will always be a safe and clear path to and from their home. This will also avoid dangerous buildup of ice that could last months into the spring.
Related: Getting the Most Use Out of Your Landscape Design This Winter in Exeter and South Whitehall PA Areas
