Winter is just around the corner which means it’s time to prepare your landscape for the winter!
While you might only associate snow removal, de-icing, and other work with winter landscaping, there’s an entire list of things you need to accomplish in the fall to get your property ready!
You might not realize it, but there are a lot of benefits that come from prepping your commercial landscape for the winter months in advance!
Here are 5 fall cleanup tips you can follow to make sure that you are properly preparing your commercial landscape for the winter. Remember that if you don’t feel like you have the equipment or the time to get all these done, contact a professional!
Why is Fall Cleanup Important?
Fall cleanup is crucial for making sure your landscape has the foundation and protection it needs to survive the winter and come in strong during the spring.
For example, some perennials need to be cut down and trimmed for the winter, while others can remain untouched throughout the cold months. Knowing what you need to take care of during the fall helps you have more confidence as the snow starts to fall.
Plus, fall cleanup is important because once snow and ice start accumulating, there’s no going back. You need to make all your preparations beforehand, so start early.
A proper fall cleanup will give you the peace of mind that your property is ready for the change of seasons. However, fall cleanups can be one of the more challenging services to schedule due to the unpredictability of fall weather and not knowing when leaves will finish dropping.
Rake, Dethatch, and Aerate Your Lawn
Raking your leaves is a timeless fall landscaping task. Love it or hate it, it’s necessary for keeping a healthy lawn. In addition to raking the leaves, you need to dethatch your lawn.
Lawn thatch is accumulated organic matter that settles at the base layer of your grass. It’s important to have a professional carry out raking and dethatching so that leaves and thatch don’t accumulate and harm your grass over the winter.
Thatch piles can actually be very harmful to your landscape, causing infestations and inviting unwanted pests that can cause long-term damage to your property.
This is where the importance of aeration comes into play; it helps you repurpose the leftover thatch that remains after dethatching.
Aeration can help to churn your soil and integrate thatch remains into your landscape. This recycles the grass seeds back into the soil, causing your grass to grow back thicker, reducing the chance of excess thatch as time goes on.
Time To Mulch
Spreading mulch is another important element of commercial landscaping. Not only does mulch look great (coming in a variety of colors including black, brown, and red), but it also helps preserve plant life over the winter.
Mulches have many benefits. These include acting as a natural barrier to weeds, helping retain moisture, insulating plants, preventing soil compaction, and even encouraging the presence of natural aerators like earthworms.
Mulch is made up of a mix of bark and woodchips. The array of source materials from different tree types helps give each mulch blend its distinct color, which can be used to compliment your landscape’s aesthetics.
Keep in mind that your mulch will break down over time due to sun, weather, temperature, and environmental exposure. Make sure you’re replacing it regularly!
Drain Cleanup
After taking care of your leaves and thatch and mulching your landscape, you or your landscaping contractor should make sure that all your drains and drainage areas are functioning and free of debris.
Leaves, sticks, acorns, walnuts, pinecones, grass clippings—you name it—can get caught in your drainage fixtures throughout the summer and fall. If they aren’t cleared before the winter, they could clog and become flooded with snowmelt as winter turns to spring.
Shrub Care
Shrubs support your landscape with aesthetics and functionality, so make sure they’re well taken care of as winter rolls in!
They’re vital for your landscape, as they add depth, and act as subtle barriers for pedestrian and vehicle traffic.
However, not all shrubs are the same when it comes to the types of treatment they’ll need in the fall. Some shrubs require simple pruning and trimming, while others require being cut down a lot more.
Again, the best way to make sure your shrubs and other landscaping elements are properly taken care of is to schedule a fall cleanup with a professional!
Prepare for Snow
This may seem like the most obvious step for winter preparation, but you still need to get it done early!
Preparing for snow includes simple things like putting up reflectors to mark where your curbs and hardscapes end but don’t forget that for true commercial landscaping success during the winter, you need to partner with a professional.
Use your fall landscape preparation time to educate yourself on the importance of securing a winter contractor who can carry out regular, efficient, and reliable snow removal.
As we mentioned, you’ll want to secure this relationship as soon as possible, so you’re not scrambling last-minute to find someone with a snowplow!
PROCARE Landscape
PROCARE has been handling commercial landscaping in the Greater Grand Rapids Area for decades. We know how important it is to be organized in order to get the job done safely and quickly.
Our commercial landscape maintenance services include a fall cleanup. We’ll be able to handle your commercial property and make sure it’s totally ready to go for the winter.
Plus, we’ll tackle your snow removal needs as well!
PROCARE employs a large fleet of plowing equipment, which allows us to maintain shorter routes and provide efficient service.
We provide completely customized snow removal services, so your property can function exactly how it needs to during the winter.
Don’t let snow get in the way of your business and daily life! Let PROCARE handle it.
To schedule an appointment or learn about our landscape management or snow removal services, contact us!
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