Top 10 Steps for Preparing your Landscape for Winter

Winterize your irrigation system. It is important to get all the water in your irrigation system blown out with a large air compressor. This will ensure the pipes will not freeze and burst during the cold winter months. A busted pipe could be very spendy to repair next spring.
 
Remove and drain garden hoses for storage. Leaving garden hoses attached to the house can cause serious damage during freezing temperatures. Drain hoses of their water and put them inside for winter storage. Roll them up in a nice coil and connect the ends together to prevent bugs and critters from taking refuge during the cold.
 
Install foam covers over outside spigots. If your outside spigots are designed for freezing temperatures then you are set. If not, purchase an inexpensive foam cover for each spigot at the hardware store. Well worth the time and effort to prevent a busted pipe in your house.
 
Do an oil change and add fuel stabilizer to your power equipment. Before it gets too cold to hold a metal wrench, spend a little time preparing your motorized lawn equipment for the winter. Fuel stabilizer is really helpful for preventing carburetors from getting gummed up and for preventing gas from going stale. Now would also be a good time to change the oil, sharpen any blades or chains, wash a summer’s worth of work off your equipment, and replace fuel and air filters. An air compressor with a blower nozzle will be your best friend for reaching the tight spaces that dirt piles into. You will be glad you took these precautions when you bring these tools out next spring.
 
Fertilize one last time. November is a great time to add one last fertilizer to your lawn for the season. A specific winter mix would be even better. Remember to wash out your spreaders before you store them. Fertilizer can cause the metal to rust over winter. Also, try to avoid “weed and feed” mixes. Keep those two tasks separate. Your lawn will thank you.
 
Store patio furniture. The big windstorms are headed our way. Now is the time to round up all the patio furniture and cover it up for the winter. Nobody wants to chase a patio chair in 40 mph winds. Remember to also give the grill a deep clean and disconnect the propane before you cover it.
 
Fold up and store tarps. Tarps are great at catching wind and holding water. Neatly folding dry tarps and putting them in storage for the season will ensure you have quality tarps next year. Also, tarps are very handy for collecting leaves. Maybe save this tip for after all the leaves have vacated the trees.
 
Cut back ornamental grasses. Once your ornamental grasses have turned brown they are ready to be cut back for the year. Do be cautious not to cut too close to the ground and remove next year’s growth. Leaving about 3 inches should be a good standard for most grasses. Leaving the brown grass standing could add nice texture to your fall and winter landscape.
 
Cut back perennials. Generally speaking, fall and winter are a good time to cut back perennials. Some plants do prefer spring pruning. Others prefer to have the old foliage to protect next year’s fragile crown. Some do not like to have to grow through last year’s old foliage. Others will mold if left uncut. Some perennials offer seeds for birds to forage during the winter. If you are unsure, it is best to look up maintenance for your specific plants.
 
Prune your trees and shrubs.
Dormant trees and shrubs are great candidates for pruning. Be sure to have sharp tools and to make cuts that will provide the new growth pattern you wish to achieve. If you need to do any major cutbacks to reduce the size of your shrubs, now is the time to do it. Be sure to look up your specific plants to see if there are any special requirements or techniques. Some shrubs can be cut almost all the way to the ground and come up new and small next year.