Many people give up on yard maintenance during the cold winter months, and making improvements to the yard may seem laughable. After all, the winter months are known for freezing temperatures, snow, ice and chilly winds. Many winter days are not well-suited for yard maintenance and improvements, but there are usually at least a few days each winter when you can comfortably work in the yard wearing a jacket, a hat and gloves. These are some excellent winter yard projects that you may consider completing in the weeks ahead.
Update the Hardscaping
Your hardscape may include a patio, walkways, flowerbed borders and other features. These permanent features add style to your space, and many also serve functional purposes. Updating hardscaping during the summer is common, but spending hours laboring away in intensely hot conditions is not ideal. Mild winter weather conditions may be a more suitable time to complete these strenuous yet essential projects.
Replace the Mulch
During those warmer periods when snow and ice melt, consider adding a fresh layer of mulch on your flowerbeds. This can immediately beautify the space, and it can prepare your yard for the spring. Mulch may protect the delicate roots of your perennials, and it can block weeds from growing once spring arrives. If the ground is thawed, you may even consider planting spring bulbs in your flowerbeds. By doing so, you will be one step ahead of your landscaping tasks when warmer weather conditions set in.
Redesign the Sprinkler System
By the time winter arrives, you may have already winterized your lawn sprinkler system to prevent leaks and related damaged. This may also be a great time to take a closer look at your system’s deficiencies. For example, the yard may not evenly receive water from the sprinkler system, and this may create uneven growth and vitality throughout your yard during the growing season. Now is a great time to redesign the sprinkler system as needed. This may be completed indoors from a strategic standpoint. The actual work on the system may then be completed when the ground has thawed out enough to do so.
When you completely give up on your yard and walk away from maintenance and improvement tasks for months on end, you inevitably wind up dealing with a huge to-do list when spring arrives. Rather than deal with this time-consuming and stressful possibility, consider applying some of these tips to your winter home maintenance and improvement plans.
