When the damp and cold of winter arrives, most people completely ignore their yard work until the spring. What you may not know is there are plenty of things that can be done during the winter months in preparation for the upcoming warmer seasons. This is actually the ideal time to renovate the lawn and eliminate the brown spots and crab grass left over from last summer.

LAWN RENOVATION:

This is the best time of the year, especially here in the Lower Mainland, to start reseeding your lawn. The amount of the rain that falls over the winter months makes it a prime time to germinate lawn seed. We recommend that you first give your lawn a nice rake to expose the soil so that seeds can germinate. Next, have a look at your yard and level the land by filling in low spots with new soil. Then, start reseeding your entire lawn or just patch the troubled areas.

We recommend using a good (environmentally safe) fertilizer like Evergro products on your lawn to ensure germination as well we recommend covering your seeds in humus and that will keep those pesky birds away.

CRAB GRASS:

This is the time of year where your lawn is covered in crab grass seeds just waiting to sprout in the spring. We recommend waiting until the last week of February when the weather starts to get warmer to start spraying pre-emergent. You really don’t want to spray pre-emergent any sooner as the chemical will kill off the new seeds you just planted and it’s not as effective in cold weather. Be advised that you cannot apply pre-emergent yourself as it is a very hazardous chemical which by law can only be done by licensed professionals. Let Arbora Property Services take care of this for you.

PRUNING:

Now is the time to start pruning your trees and rose bushes before they start to bud. It’s also a great time to trim those over grown bushes and non-fruit trees before they start to grow again. When Arbora takes on a pruning job we know that it starts from the inside out of a tree or bush by removing crossing branches. It’s good to get rid of thin branches so they don’t get too heavy with fruit. In regards to a tree’s health we believe quality of branches is more important than quantity. Another tip is to make sure to spray your trees with dormant oil three times a year. We suggest applying dormant oil in late October, around Christmas, and just after pruning.

FLOWER BEDS:

Clean out your flower beds by removing fallen leaves and blossoms so that mold and fungus doesn’t start to grow. Take care of your soil during the winter so that there is less work to do in the spring time.

If your flower bed has just annuals (flowers you plant every year) we suggest removing dead plants and turning the soil with a pitchfork. Use a broad fork to loosen up the sub soil too. This will expose pests to the freezing cold and is great soil preparation for the spring time. When done, we like to sprinkle the flower bed with compost or a really good organic fertilizer from Evergro.

With perennials (flowers that grow back every year) we recommend waiting until top growth has completely died off before trimming. Once top growth has died we recommend cutting the perennials back to ground growth or dividing perennials and shrubs that need it. Not all the perennials need to be cut only the ones that require it for total regrowth.

Another good thing for flower bed preparation is once you have cut your perennials and cleaned out dead annuals we recommend adding a thin layer of mulch to the flower bed. This will add some insulation and nutrients to your soil so that when spring comes around you will be a head of the game.

PLANTING:

We recommend finding bare-root trees and roses to plant at this time of year. You will get the best prices on trees and bushes for your landscaping needs.

BOOK YOUR LANDSCAPING PROFESSIONAL:

Now is the time to book Arbora for your home or property services. Things start to get very busy as we get closer to March so it is ideal to book us now for a free consultation. Plan a head to get the best service and prices of the year.

Contact Arbora Property Services today at arboralandscaping.com

We offer weekly and bi-weekly services at very competitive prices throughout Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, Burnaby, New Westminster, Langley, Abbotsford, Surrey, Richmond, Delta, North Vancouver and Vancouver.

• Step #1 - LIME:

  During the winter there’s a lot of rain, the soil gets acidic and it needs to be neutralized by lime.

• Step #2 - AERATION:

  Aeration increases the amount of air, nutrients and water reaching the soil.

• Step #3 - TOP DRESSING:

  It improves the quality of the soil, making it more breathable and nutrient rich. Spread a very light layer of soil over your lawn.

• Step #4 – OVER SEEDING:

  Grass thins and tires after a few years: over seeding encourages thick growth and discourages weeds.

• Step #5 - FERTILIZING:

  Fertilize every two months from April to October.

• Step #6 – MOW YOUR LAWN:

  Not more than 1/3 each cut. We recommend growing it long and let the roots mature, and don’t cut it too short.

Follow these basic steps and you will have a lawn that your neighbour will be jealous of.  We leave you with this quote.

Mow the lawn perfectly, but neglect to make the bed?  It’s pure, unadulterated logic.  Everyone can see the yard – nobody can see the bed.  The lawn is the canvas upon guys judge each other.  It’s the great redeemer.  If we aren’t great lawn men, we’re nothing.” –  Kevin Kerwin, 47 Husband Mysteries Solved.