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This time last year, it had already snowed in the Reno-Sparks valley. We may be enjoying unseasonably warm weather right now, but locals know how quickly weather can change in this part of the world. The fact is, winter isn’t far off, and icy temperatures will be upon us soon. If you haven’t already prepped your outdoor space for winter, take advantage of this above-average temperatures to do so. By getting your landscape ready for cold weather now, you can give it the best start come spring. Here are 3 tips for winterizing your landscape in Reno and Sparks.

Tips for Winterizing Your Reno-Sparks Landscape

• Mow or rake fallen leaves. We have an entire post covering best practices for cleaning up autumn leaves, but the biggest thing is not to skip this chore! A thick mat of leaves keeps sunshine from reaching your lawn, but instead of raking leaves, try shredding them. Use the mulching feature on your lawn mower if it has one, or else set the blades to the highest setting and mow over the leaves to shred the foliage for a mulch that will slowly break down over the winter.
• Mulch properly. A generous layer of mulch is beneficial all year long here in northern Nevada. In the colder months, adding mulch to the base of trees, shrubs, and plants helps maintain soil temperature. Organic mulch, such as wood chips, shredded or chunked bark, and compost, also retains moisture, so it can serve as a source of water when it gets really cold and dry out. For winter mulching, these are your best options.
• Wrap your shrubs. Use burlap and twine to wrap your plants, shrubs, and small trees to protect them from the elements, especially if they’ve been planted in the last two years. Make sure the burlap touches the soil. And if you’re tall, narrow shrubs, do so in a tight column with twine to keep branches from snapping or bending under the weight of heavy snow.

By this time of year, you should have already shut off your irrigation system. If not, it’s definitely time to do so.

Landscaping in 2024

If prepping your landscape is making you realize there’s plenty of room for improvements, start contacting local landscaping companies. By reaching out now, you have time to find a great contractor for the work and finalize elements of your project. Getting on the schedule now ensures you’re early in line once work begins in the warmer months. Plus, since work historically slows down over the winter, companies have more time to devote to your bid.

Harris Landscape Construction is a trusted company with decades of experience in Reno and Sparks. Contact us today to learn more about our services and what we can do to bring your landscape dreams to life.