Winter Landscape Care
Even if you only spend a little time working in your yard during winter,
adding these easy, cool-season tasks to your list can yield a great payoff:
Water less and water in cycles. You probably don't drink a glass of water in one gulp. Lawns, too, need their "sips" periodically rather than all at once. In the winter, water your lawn three times a day for four minutes each time. Make sure you follow the mandatory drought watering restrictions.
Water in the midmorning. That way, you will avoid the afternoon winds that keep your sprinklers from hitting their grass target. You will also reduce the risk of icing that can occur in non-daylight hours.
Check your sprinklers. Turn on sprinklers for a minute after you mow and scan for broken or misaligned heads, as well as broken pipes. A twisted head could water your sidewalk instead of your grass.
Protect new plants. February is usually mild enough to allow you to plant petunias, pansies, snapdragons and other cool-season annuals in a well-drained, highly enriched soil. Adding a protective mulch on the soil around your plants will conserve water so you don't have to water as often. Remember to stake new plants and water them deeply to avoid the wind stressing them out and burning young leaves.
Revive roses. Fertilize established rose bushes now to encourage spring blooms and put down a 3-inch layer of mulch around each plant. Always water before and after applying fertilizer.
Fertilize fruit plants. Peak blooming season is approaching, and the best time to fertilize fruit trees and grapes is the six weeks before and after they bloom. Fertilize now for the finest fruit.
Leave damaged plants alone. If you notice frost or a freeze has damaged a plant, leave it alone until warmer weather arrives and new growth appears. Pruning or transplanting a damaged plant now can hurt or even kill it.
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If you have questions about watering, water conservation tools for
your garden, or would like a complimentary water savings survey,
please call (805) 684-2816.