Blog

We’ve already had our first snow here in Reno and Sparks, and temperatures have been seriously cold, especially overnight. If you haven’t already prepped your outdoor space for winter, it’s time to move! Getting your landscape ready for cold weather is the best way to ensure everything will be healthy when spring rolls around and temperatures begin to warm. Fortunately, you aren’t too late. Here are some easy tips for winterizing your Reno landscape (even after it’s already snowed!).

Tips for Winterizing Your Reno Landscape

• Remove fallen leaves. Raking up all those leaves will ensure a vibrant lawn come spring. It’s easiest to wait until the leaves are mostly dry to rake or leaf blow them into a pile for transferring to a garbage bag. If you compost, that’s another option too. Either way, make sure to remove these leaves. Those that are left behind to decompose on the lawn can thin and even kill grass.
• Add mulch. A generous layer of mulch is a beneficial year-round here in northern Nevada. In the winter, mulching around the base of trees, shrubs, and plants help maintain soil temperature, which means less stress. Organic mulch (wood chips, shredded or chunked bark, even compost) also retain moisture and can be a source of water when it gets really cold out. These are the best options for winter mulching.
• Wrap shrubs. Wrapping your plants, shrubs, and small trees with burlap or twine can help protect them from the elements. That’s particularly beneficial if they’re fewer than two years old. The older plants are, the hardier they become. If you opt for burlap, make sure it touches the soil. Tall, narrow shrubs can be wrapped into a tight column with twine to keep branches from snapping or bending under the weight of heavy snow.

Hopefully you’ve already shut off your irrigation system. If not, that should be your very first priority.

Thinking Ahead

If prepping your landscape is giving you ideas for improvements, this is a great time to start contacting local landscaping companies. Planning ahead gives you time to finalize elements of your project. And since winter months are historically slower for landscaping, companies have more time to devote to your bid. Plus, you’ll get on the schedule so your project can begin once the weather cooperates.

In Reno and Sparks, Harris Landscape Construction is a trusted company with decades of experience. Contact us today to learn more about our services and what we can do. And stay warm out there!