With the pandemic keeping people sheltering at home, more people are extending their outdoor time in the winter by adding fire pits, outdoor heaters, and other features.  You should understand what winter yard work needs to be done and what you can do to keep things working properly.

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute, an international trade association representing power equipment, small engine, portable generator, utility vehicle, golf car, and personal transport vehicle manufacturers and suppliers, is located nearby in Alexandria, Virginia. President and CEO Kris Kiser offered List With Elizabeth some knowledgeable tips to keep your yard in top shape for winter use. Because even in the wintertime, it’s important to take care of your yard! 

Let’s look at some of the most important winter yard work tasks to consider.

Winter Yard Work Tasks to Consider

Stop trimming your lawn once it freezes. Trim your grass to the height recommended for your lawn variety before it freezes. Cutting your grass too short can leave it dry and exposes it to the elements, not to mention insects and disease. Pay close attention to this winter yard work task or it could be a problem for your lawn.

Add a thin layer of mulch to your lawn before it’s too cold. A thin layer of mulch can protect your grass roots from snow and frost. It can even prevent deeper layers of soil from freezing, making it easier for your lawn to bounce back in the spring. If you want to keep your plants and grass growing well, this is an important part of your winter yard work.

Check your trees for dead or damaged limbs. Removing dead or damaged limbs before inclement weather arrives is one way to protect your shrubs and yard from damage (not to mention people and pets!). Snow and ice can weigh heavily on dead branches and make them snap and fall. Remove any dead branches carefully with clippers, a chainsaw, or a pole pruner, following safety precautions. Consult an arborist for problematic trees. 

Mark pathways to clear and beds to avoid. Mark the areas that you will need to clear of snow and ice, as well as areas you want to avoid, like flower beds. Stakes or sticks can help. That way, when it’s time to run your snow thrower, you won’t accidentally cut a path through the lawn and can stick to your walkways. Always follow the manufacturer’s safety procedures and never put your hand inside the snow thrower. Always use a clean out tool or stick to clear a clog. Be sure that children and pets are safely inside and not near outdoor power equipment while it’s being operated.

Keep new (and old) plantings well-hydrated. Many people have added trees and shrubs to their yards during the pandemic, and caring for them in the winter is still important. Plants and trees that are well-hydrated are more likely to survive a hard freeze, so water well before the cold snap sticks. Newly planted trees can only survive about two weeks in the winter without water, so be sure to water any new trees you’ve added to your landscape if they aren’t getting water naturally from rain or snow. If your outside hose is already shut off for the winter, then use a bucket and add 5 gallons to the area around the tree. 

Continue watering plants and trees even after the leaves drop. Older plants and trees should enter winter well-hydrated, so continue watering even after the leaves have dropped. Even in the wintertime, hardy evergreen plants continue to lose moisture through their needles and if it’s a dry winter they need supplemental water too. 

Don’t shake heavy snow and ice off branches. It may be tempting for children (or adults) to wiggle those branches and watch the snow come off, but snow or ice can damage a branch. Shaking them can cause the branches to snap. It’s better to wait until the snow melts to assess the damage. While this might not be winter yard work, it’s important to pay close attention to.

Remove damaged branches as soon as the weather allows you to do it safely. If snow or ice has snapped a limb, look at the cut and assess the damage. Try to get a clean cut on an already broken branch or limb, as this will make it more difficult for insects or disease to enter the stressed area on your tree or shrub. Follow all manufacturer’s safety precautions if using a chainsaw or pole pruner.

Be careful about salt. Salt can melt snow and ice, but it can also damage plants and trees by drawing water away from their roots. Keep salt applications away from your trees and shrubs. Salt should also be cleaned off pet paws following a romp outside in the snow.

Remember to get outside, even when it’s chilly. It’s good for our mental and physical well-being to spend time in our family yards and breathe in the fresh air – and it also helps us connect to each other and with nature. You can spend time outside doing the winter yard work and gain benefits.

These are just a few of the winter yard work tasks you should handle. With the right winter yard work, you can keep your yard looking and functioning well.