How To Care for Your Luxury Landscape in the Winter

Winter in Colorado can be as beautiful as it is challenging for your luxury landscape. From frostbitten plants to snow-covered hardscaping, the cold weather requires proactive care to preserve your yard’s health and functionality. By taking steps to aerate and fertilize your lawn, protect plants, and prepare hardscaping features, you can help your landscape survive the season and emerge ready to thrive in the spring. Here are some essential tips for keeping your landscape in top shape throughout winter.

Winter Landscape Maintenance

Plan for Snow Removal

Denver receives an average of 57.1 inches of snowfall annually. While a white lawn can be idyllic around Christmas, you’ll want to clear the snow as soon as you can for a few reasons. For one, leaving snow on your lawn can lead to snow mold, a disease that kills grass and plants. The lack of sunlight is another reason. With sunlight already diminished during the winter, it’s vital that your lawn receives as much sunlight as possible, which is hard to do when your lawn is covered by snow. Finally, snow on tree branches can lead to breakage, especially on younger trees — use a broom to gently brush snow off branches and plants.

Aerate and Fertilize

In the fall, between September and November, you’ll want to aerate your lawn to break up compaction and improve oxygen and water flow to the root systems when plants are dormant in the winter. Whether you use manual or liquid aeration, doing so will break up the thatch and give your lawn a fighting chance during the winter.

In addition to aerating the lawn, you should also fertilize it with a slow-release winter fertilizer. This will slowly release nutrients into the soil to support root health throughout the winter. Make sure you get a winter fertilizer with the right balance of potassium, phosphorus, and nitrogen, though too much of the latter can encourage late-season growth.

Protect Plants With Mulch

In Colorado, you can count on the ground freezing over, which can dry out the soil and cause root damage. While this can’t avoided, it can be managed through the use of mulch. Whether you use organic mulch, like grass clippings or bark chips, or inorganic mulch, such as stones, mulch can slow down the rate at which the ground freezes.

It’s recommended to spread a layer of mulch on your yard after the first freeze of the winter. Doing this will lock in moisture, ensuring your plants don’t die out during the winter. Also, the mulch will prevent late-season growth. When spreading the mulch, it’s best to keep mulch two to three inches away from tree trunks and plant stems to prevent rot and pests.

Water Before Freezing Temperatures

Hydration is essential for plant survival, so watering plants is still necessary during the winter months. It’s best to water the plants during the day when the temperature is above freezing. Just make sure not to overwater the plants, which can lead to root rot. The soil should be moist but not soggy.

Deep watering throughout the year is encouraged. This method, which involves saturating the soil around a plant up to 8 inches below the ground, encourages roots to grow deeper, making roots more resistant to freezing in the winter.

Wrap Delicate Plants

Wrapping plants, while tedious and time-consuming, is a proven method to prevent plants from dying. Burlap sacks or frost blankets shield plants from icy winds and extreme temperature fluctuations common in Denver. While trees may fare better in the winter, it’s a good idea to wrap the trunks of young trees, which are more susceptible to freezing temperatures, to prevent cracking. You can prevent plants from blowing away by securely anchoring wraps; just make sure there is enough airflow to prevent mold growth.

Container plants require a different approach. Move them to a sheltered area, such as indoors, to prevent them from freezing over or being toppled by the wind. If leaving container plants outdoors, you can wrap them with insulation to prevent roots from freezing.

Prepare Your Irrigation System

Your irrigation system needs some love, too, to survive the winter. Start by turning off the main water supply to the system, and then insulate above-ground components such as valves and faucets. Next, drain all water from pipes, hoses, and sprinklers. This will prevent these irrigation components from freezing and bursting. You can also use a strong air compressor to clear any remaining water from irrigation lines. Doing all this will prevent any irrigation issues in the winter and ensure your landscape thrives in the spring.

Inspect and Maintain Hardscaping

On top of preparing your lawn, plants, trees, and irrigation system for the winter season, you can’t forget about your hardscaping features. Pergolas, patios, water fountains, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens all require some level of preparation.

  • Winterize Water Features: Drain and turn off all water features, remove and store pumps and filters, cover with waterproof tarps, and inspect for leaks or damage before freezing weather sets in.
  • Prepare Patios for Winter: Clean and seal surfaces to protect against moisture, store or cover outdoor furniture, avoid salt-based de-icers, and fix any loose or damaged pavers to prevent further damage.
  • Safeguard Pergolas: Clean off debris, apply a weatherproof sealant, remove accessories like lights or fabric covers, and gently clear heavy snow to prevent structural damage.
  • Protect Fire Pits: Clear out ash and debris, cover with weather-resistant materials, disconnect gas lines or propane tanks, and inspect for cracks to maintain functionality and safety.
  • Winterize Outdoor Kitchens: Shut off water supply lines, clean and cover appliances and countertops, seal gaps in cabinetry, and store grills and tools indoors to prevent winter wear and tear.

Keep Your Landscape Winter-Ready with C&H Landscaping

Winter landscape maintenance doesn’t have to be overwhelming. By following these steps — like aerating and fertilizing your lawn, protecting plants with mulch, and winterizing your hardscaping features — you can ensure your outdoor space is well-prepared for the colder months.

If you need expert assistance, C&H Landscaping is here to help. From tailored winter maintenance plans to professional hardscaping preparation, we have the expertise to protect your landscape year-round. Contact us today to keep your yard in its best shape all season long!

Jan 27, 2025

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