Winter Yardwork

How to winterize your yard to avoid spring problems?

If you like to spend some time in the yard, then you may want to get into some winter yard work. The work could be easy and fun for the entire family. At the same time, there are some tasks that you might not want to mess with. This article will tell you about all the features of how to winterize a yard correctly. 

Some questions need to be prepared in advance. For example, you should know for sure how short to cut grass for winter, what fertilizer should be added to a lawn, how to make winter plant covers, and protect your irrigation system from the freeze.

If you do not have answers to such questions, it might be better to contact contractors who are competent in winterizing the yard. The Fee4bee is a wide network of contractors that helps you to find the specialist you need.

When to start winterizing your yard?

You may want to do some of the work yourself or hire a contractor to complete all steps to winterizing your yard. In any case, you should calculate your time such that you finish your pre-winter yardwork before the first frost. 

Most often preparing a yard for winter includes the following stages:

1. Winterizing yard faucets and winterizing yard hydrants. Preparing it for winter essentially means frost protection, which can expand water and burst pipes. Also, a winterizing yard sprinkler system if you have it. Breaking water pipes can cause thousands of dollars in damage as water soaks into walls and floors, so it's better to avoid this.
2. For preparing the lawn for winter don't leave tall grass on your lawn. Field mice, which will seek warmth, and they can damage your lawn with their burrows. On the other hand, if you cut the grass too short, winter mold grows more easily there. And when the cold is over your grass will look dead after winter.
3. If you have ornamental trees and shrubs growing in your yard, it is better to cover them. Some plants do not tolerate winter cold well and need a special winter tree cover. For the same reason, some people do the bush covers for winter. You may also want to cut back perennials branches to prevent them from breaking under the snow weight. 
4. Winterizing of the drainage systems. When the snow begins to melt you will don't want your entire yard turned into a puddle due to a faulty drainage system. 

How to do the preparing grass for winter?

Cutting grass for winter is not the big deal and you can do it easily. But some aspects of pre-winter lawn care need to be paid more attention to. Also, you should test your soil to add winterizing yard fertilizer.

There are many things you should take into consideration before preparing your lawn for winter, such as the weather. Check the temperature, and find out what the day/night temperatures will be when you start.

The last time to cut grass before winter is the end of October. Here are some recommendations for this time:

• To the end of the season, you should gradually lower the mower blade, so by the beginning of cold weather, your lawn must be about 1.5-2 inches (5-6 cm) in height. This will help to winterize grass well.
• Don't mow your lawn during wet weather. This can damage the turf and the roots.
• It is not so important to grab all the fallen leaves, some of which can be left.
• Weeds can harm the lawn so that is better to remove them. 

If you contact contractors there are some winterizing yard tips for a check.

Winterizing grass will not be a problem if you made it before. But other yardwork claims a more professional approach. It is better to entrust winterizing yard sprinkler systems and winterizing yard faucets to qualified specialists who will not damage it for sure. Before ordering, you need to check how responsibly contractors approach the process. Ask them: 

• What experience and feedback do they have?
• Which equipment do they use for winterizing the back yard? How do they blow out the water with an air compressor? 
• Which kind of warranty do they have?  
• If you would like to order a full winterization service, ask them if they are able to make a winter plant cover and add fertilizer in the correct proportions?

These questions could help you to avoid odd contractors and unwanted costs. All these items you can check at contractors’ hiring platform Fee4bee.