You can help protect your landscape in February by avoiding trampling over frozen or thawing grass.
There are still six more weeks of winter on the calendar, but before you know it, spring will be arriving again, and your lawn and landscape needs will increase dramatically. To avoid extensive lawn and landscape care upon the arrival of spring, you can take the final weeks of winter to do what you can to prepare for the future. By taking some time for your lawn and landscape in February, you can save yourself extra work once spring arrives.
Check Your Trees and Shrubs
Your trees and shrubs have been experiencing winter weather for a couple of months now, so it is wise to check up on them. You can prune shrubs or trees with winter damage and continue taking precautions to protect trees and shrubs before expected freezes. You want to take steps to make sure your trees or shrubs can bounce back quickly once spring arrives.
Inspect Your Lawn
While your landscape in February may look dormant, it is still alive under the surface and may need a bit of late-winter attention. You can continue to address any emerging weeds with a post-emergence herbicide and keep off any frozen grass as best as you can. It is especially important to stay off the lawn when frozen ground begins to thaw. Traffic on partially thawed lawns causes more damage than traffic on frozen lawns. You can also look for any instances of snow mold or vole infestation. Scientific Plant Service’s Tree & Turf Health Care Advisors can verify snow mold or vole infestations. Call our office if you need a free consultation.
Practice Regular Maintenance
Regular cleanup and maintenance are required before spring arrives, so your lawn can bounce back quickly and look its best. A few tasks you may have time for now include:
- Sharpening your garden tools and lawnmower blades
- Picking up and disposing of winter deadfall
- Starting up your power tools to make sure they are running smoothly and are ready to work in the spring
- Turning your compost pile
- Creating your garden calendar, with dates for seed germination and planting
You can also create a list of goals for your lawn or garden this year, so you can know what equipment, seeds, or tools you may need to gather before springtime.
Check On Container Plants
Any plants you may have in a container outside of your home require special attention. Place container-grown plants in a protected area such as against your home’s foundation or a retaining wall. By protecting the containers from winter winds, you will stand an improved chance of the plant surviving winter’s extreme temperatures and drying winds.
There is always something you can do for your lawn and landscape, even in February. By taking time this month to inspect your lawn and landscape and prepare your equipment, you can make sure that your lawn and landscape enter spring ready to thrive.
Scientific Plant Service Is Your Go-To Source In Landscape Healthcare
Scientific Plant Service, located in Baltimore, is a privately owned corporation, chartered in Maryland in 1957 by Frank J. Burke. We started as a full-service Arborists specializing in the care of shade trees and ornamental shrubs, but today we are a Lawn Care company that is a huge part of the community. From aquatic environments and snow management to deer and mole control, SPS has services tailored specifically for your lawn and landscape.
We offer services in Maryland, Washington, DC, and Virginia, including: Harford, Baltimore, Carroll, Frederick, Howard, Anne Arundel, Montgomery, Prince Georges, Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Calvert counties in MD, as well as Loudoun County, Fairfax County, Arlington, Alexandria, and Falls Church in VA. For more information, contact us online, or call us at 410-321-0970. Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Pinterest!