If you are a homeowner or business owner in Prairieville, Louisiana, you are probably looking for ways to protect your valuable lawn and landscaping from the upcoming cold weather. Protecting your landscape from hard freezes is essential for a beautiful spring lawn. You want to skip the common mistakes that can damage your grass and shrubs. We’ve compiled the essential tips on what to avoid during your winter prep so you don’t face a costly surprise when the temperatures rise again.
What Are The Biggest Winter Prep Mistakes To Avoid?
When the weather turns cold in Louisiana, many people make crucial errors while preparing their lawns for winter. These mistakes can undermine your efforts and lead to dead patches or vulnerable plants come spring. To achieve the best results, there are several key actions you must avoid mistakes in your winter prep efforts.
Avoid Cutting Your Grass Too Short
You might think cutting the grass as short as possible before the cold sets in will help, but this is a major mistake in your winter prep strategy. Grass blades need a certain length to insulate the roots and store necessary nutrients for the winter dormancy period. Cutting too short, also known as “scalping,” strips the grass of this protection, leaving the roots exposed to potential freeze damage.
- The Best Practice: Aim for a final cut that leaves the grass blades at a height of about two to three inches. This provides enough insulation without leaving too much material that could mat down and cause snow mold.
Avoid Excessive or Improper Fertilization
Many homeowners mistakenly believe a heavy dose of nitrogen-rich fertilizer is the final step in winter prep. However, too much nitrogen right before the first hard freeze can encourage new, tender growth that will be instantly killed by the cold. This wastes the fertilizer and stresses the plant. Similarly, using the wrong type of fertilizer, like one with high quick-release nitrogen, can be detrimental. We highly recommend consulting with a professional before fertilizing your own yard.
- The Best Practice: Focus on a balanced, slow-release “winterizer” fertilizer in the fall, which is typically higher in potassium. Potassium helps harden the grass cell walls, improving its resistance to cold and drought stress, which is vital for successful winter prep.
Avoid Improper Watering Before a Freeze
Even though your lawn is entering dormancy, it still needs moisture, especially if you have a period of dry weather leading up to a hard freeze. Completely stopping all watering is a common tactic you should skip. However, overwatering just before a freeze is also damaging, as the excess water can freeze around the roots and cause serious issues.
Water your lawn deeply a few days before the expected hard freeze. This hydrates the roots, making them more resilient, but allows the surface to dry slightly before the coldest weather hits.
Avoid Leaving Too Many Leaves or Debris on the Lawn
While a thin layer of leaves can provide some insulation, allowing a thick blanket of leaves, pine needles, or other debris to sit on your lawn through the winter is a common mistake in winter preparation. This debris suffocates the grass, prevents sunlight from reaching the blades on warmer days, and creates a damp environment where diseases like snow mold can thrive.
- The Best Practice: Rake, mulch, or blow off leaves regularly throughout the fall and before the first freeze. Your lawn needs air circulation, even when dormant, for successful winter prep efforts.
Should I Avoid Mistakes When Protecting My Landscaping Plants?
It’s not just your grass that needs protection; your trees, shrubs, and ornamental plants in Prairieville, Louisiana, are also vulnerable to hard freezes. Making the right choices now can save you from costly replacements or repairs later.
Avoid Over-Pruning or Late Pruning
Always avoid doing a heavy final pruning just before winter. Pruning encourages new growth, which is extremely susceptible to cold damage. New shoots will be killed by a hard freeze, weakening the overall plant.
- The Best Practice: Save any heavy structural pruning for late winter or early spring, just before the start of the next growing season. For your winter prep, focus on removing only dead or clearly diseased branches.
Avoid Piling Mulch Directly Against Stems and Trunks
While mulching is an excellent winter prep activity to insulate the roots of trees and shrubs, piling mulch up against the base of the plant’s stem or trunk is a significant mistake. This practice can trap too much moisture against the bark, leading to rot and creating an inviting habitat for rodents that might chew on the bark during winter.
- The Best Practice: Create a “donut” shape with your mulch, keeping it a few inches away from the base of the plant. A two to four-inch layer of mulch is ideal for insulation without encouraging rot or pests in your winter prep.
Avoid Forgetting About Tender Plants
If you have non-native or particularly tender plants, assuming they will survive the cold without assistance is a major oversight. Hard freezes in Prairieville can damage or kill vulnerable plants if they aren’t properly sheltered.
- The Best Practice: For susceptible shrubs and perennial beds, consider covering them with burlap, frost cloth, or a thick layer of straw or pine straw before the coldest weather. Ensure the covering does not crush the plant, allowing for some air circulation during your winter prep.
By avoiding these common winter prep mistakes, you are setting your lawn and landscaping up for a strong, healthy start next spring. Proper preparation now saves time, money, and hassle later on.
Prepare Your Lawn and Landscaping for Winter
Protecting your investment during the harshest of winters requires professional knowledge and attention to detail. At Griffin Lawn Care, we’ve spent 18 years mastering the best practices for lawns and landscaping in Prairieville, Louisiana, and surrounding areas. Our trained staff takes pride in leaving each property in pristine condition, always striving to exceed expectations.
Don’t risk costly mistakes during your crucial winter prep. Let our seasoned professionals manage your cold-weather preparation, from proper fertilization to protecting vulnerable plants.
We proudly serve homeowners and business owners in Prairieville, Gonzales, Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, and nearby areas throughout Louisiana.
Give us a call today at (225) 202-5605.