Winter protection for your lawn

When the snow melts each spring lawns often show damage from winter snow mold.  There are preventive measures the can be taken for snow mold: Try to cut your grass down to 2 inches so the leaves blow off the top of lawn.  Fill in any low spots before winter.  Snow mold is more severe in higher cut turf because the grass gets matted down and when you have low spots, the snow will sit there for longer periods causing snow mold.  If your grass is matted down, lightly rake your lawn so you can get some air circulation.  Do not rake to the point that you are pulling out all the grass, because then you will have to reseed.  Aeration also helps with snow mold.  If you do not do anything at all, 80% of the time, the lawn will recover but very slowly.

Winter protection for roses

The most popular protection for roses is the use of rose cones.  Do not cover your rose bushes too early.  You can also place a mound of mulch or soil around the roses.  In the spring remove  the mulch or soil from the roses when they start growing.  Pruning should be done before bud break.  Timing will range from mid-winter to mid-spring depending on weather.  If forsythia blooms, prune roses when yellow forsythia buds begin to show.

Winter protection for Shrubs

You can also protect shrubs with mulch, leaves, or wood chips by placing them around the base of plant.  Remove the mulch again in the spring.  Watering all shrubs and trees deeply before the ground freezes also will help.  If snow or ice coats the branches, remove the ice gently so the branches do not break.

Pruning trees and shrubs

The main reason for pruning an older tree is to remove diseased, dead or broken branches.  Keep in mind that the position of branches will not change as the tree matures.  A branch that is now a few feet off the ground, will always be at about the same height.  Large shade trees should be pruned in early spring before leaves appear.  Prune spring flowering trees after they bloom.  The best time to prune most deciduous shrubs is late winter or early spring when you can see the outline of the branches before leaves appear.

Winter bird feeding

Bird feeding can be an enjoyable winter activity.  There are five common types of feeders:  hopper, platform, tube, nectar and suet.  Most species of birds will visit hopper and platform feeders filled with seed mixes.  Tube feeders are designed for finches but will attract other types of birds.  Hummingbirds enjoy the nectar feeders.  Woodpeckers are attracted to suet feeders.

WE APPRECIATE YOUR REFERRALS

Referrals are a great way to let us know you appreciate our work!  We do appreciate our customers and would like to extend a discount to you. Please refer to us a fertilizing customer and receive $25 off core aeration (1/2 off reg. price) or $20 off one fertilizing application.  Thank you for your referrals! We appreciate your business.  If there is anything more we can do for you, our customers regarding your lawns, trees, shrubs or flowerbeds, please let us know! We aim to make your lives easier in these busy times!

Call Jump Start Lawncare, Inc. at (440)235-9694 or visit our website at jumpstartlawncare.com