What You Should Do To Prepare You Outdoor Living Space For Winter

Although Toronto is a breathtakingly beautiful area, there’s no denying the weather is extreme in the winter. No matter how well-made the components of your landscape may be, it’s still crucial that you take steps to protect your home or business from the elements during the colder months. Taking precautionary steps ahead of winter storms is a form of investment. You pay some money upfront to save yourself from having to shell out larger sums after the storms move through. Those precautions are also far less of a headache than repair work is.

The first order of business ahead of the winter is dealing with the sprinkler system. Turning the sprinklers off isn’t enough; the sprinkler lines must be drained of excess water. If that isn’t done or is done improperly, the water within them can freeze and cracks pipes, leading to leaks once you try to use them again. Sprinkler leaks can be minor and only noticeable because of a higher water bill, or they can be major, causing intense pressure changes that send water spurting into the air and flooding your lawn. In some cases, the leak may be severe enough to necessitate a boil water notice in case of backflow issues. It’s important to have an expert examine the sprinkler lines and ensure they’re drained properly to avoid these issues. 

Remember that your landscape can’t build a tolerance to cold as people do. While you might think 40 degrees isn’t so bad, concrete doesn’t agree. If concrete is older and already set, cold weather can cause it to contract, leading to cracks forming. If moisture seeps inside after rain or snow falls, it can freeze and force the material to expand and crack from the pressure. The same is true for other porous materials like stone, brick, and wood. Getting a new sealant applied ahead of the colder months is the best way to protect against the possibility of cracks forming. There are different types of sealant, and an expert landscaper can talk with you about the right option for your property. The sealant keeps moisture out and serves as a barrier to the cold, protecting from cracks. 

Some people also put rock salt or chemical ice melters on their driveways and walkways to lower the freezing temperature of the water and prevent ice from forming. However, those products can corrode your concrete and pavers and are especially risky for concrete poured within the past year. Expert landscapers can access gentler alternatives that do the job without harming your landscape.

In Canada, we tend to favor plants that go dormant in the winter but resurface when things warm up. There is a trick is to ensure those plants don’t die off completely in the cold, so they return in the spring. To do that, landscapers lay down mulch or other protectants around the flowers to keep the ground from freezing. Some plants may also require coverings to serve as a blanket against the cold. Some plants won’t make it through a harsh winter but have bulbs that can be dug up, saved, and replanted when the time comes. And some plants need to be brought indoors. Professionals know how to treat plants to give them the best chance of survival through the winter. 

There are also steps to take toward the end of winter or early spring to ensure your landscape stays as beautiful as possible. This period is the perfect time to prune trees and shrubs since the plants are still dormant. Pruning before new growth starts allows the plant to focus its energy on new growth rather than diverting resources to older parts that may wind up dying off anyway. It is also a good time to shape the plant since the foliage is gone, making shrubs and trees easier to shape. This rule of thumb isn’t true for all plants, however. Expert landscapers know which types of trees and bushes flourish best with pruning done at the end of the cold season and which need tending to at other times of the year. 

Winter weather can cause problems for your landscape if you don’t properly prepare. The professionals at Luke’s Landscaping can guide you through that process, ensuring your property is ready to go up against winter weather. Having an expert out to analyze the property and help you take precautions to protect your home or business makes an astounding difference. We are Toronto’s most-trusted landscaping service. Contact us today for an estimate or to put your winter plan into effect.