Cultivate
/ SEASONAL PLANNING
by Joseph Diplacido
Winter is Coming Seven tips for preparing your yard
WHILE GEORGIANS are fortunate to have warmer winters than about half the country, those months aren’t exactly tropical. Landscapes need some love to prepare for the cold season. The Plants Creative maintenance crew has these top tips for winterizing a landscape, whether you choose to do it yourself or hire a professional for help. › Water everything before winter arrives in force. The best way to protect shrubs, small trees, sod and seasonal flowers from cold weather damage is to water them before the frost. Water insulates root systems and helps prevent cold weather damage. This is especially important for newer, less established plantings.
› Shut down your irrigation system. December, January and February are the months where it gets cold enough to ruin your irrigation system. It can be protected through winterizing by turning off your water supply valve, running your system through its cycles and blowing out the pipes to completely empty them. 34
DECATUR LIVING
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