Winter weather can wreak havoc on your plants from the cold winds, to the heavy snow, and even the de-icers that are used to help clear the walks and drives.
Bring in your plants that can’t stand the cold winter and enjoy them in your house over the winter. Then they will be healthy and ready to go outside once the weather begins to warm.
Be careful when you are clearing the snow from your walks and driveways. It is very easy to find yourself focusing on the task at hand and forgetting that there are gardens under that snow to the side. So watch where you shovel or blow that snow. And be especially careful when plowing (or getting plowed out). You could wind up with a mountain of snow on your garden and not be able to find it until late spring. Put some stakes up around plant areas where you may find yourself tempted to pile snow to remind you to aim elsewhere.
Help out your trees and shrubs by knocking off the excess snow after storms – and keep an eye out for the snow that slides off your roofs. If you have a roof that often experiences avalanches, consider getting a long handled snow brush to carefully remove some of the snow. This way, you can control the descent and reduce the damage from the snow.
Salt and chemical thaws can help make your sidewalks safer to walk on, but plants don’t appreciate them. Be careful when tossing it around your garden areas. Using some of the higher priced ice melters that don’t contain salt and are more plant-friendly will be safer for plants and limit damage to concrete at the same time. It may cost a bit more to toss around, but it will save you money, work, and aggravation later.