As the temperature starts to drop and the days grow shorter in New Jersey, it’s time to start thinking about how to prepare your outdoor living spaces for snow and cold weather. By following these tips and ideas, you can winterize your deck and patio, and protect them from the cold. You even make them usable when the temperature is crisp but still inviting. There are also steps you can take to ensure that your lawn is prepped for the coming spring.
General outdoor winter protection
While it’s great having all 4 seasons to enjoy, winter can play havoc with some of your home’s external structures, furniture and equipment. Protect your home and outdoor spaces and even make them fit for winter use.
The first thing to do is to insulate any exposed pipes to prevent freezing. This will stop you from having to fix them during the cold winter months and will save you from repair costs. Likewise, drain your hoses, sprinklers and other irrigation components.
Bring in any furniture or equipment from your lawn or patio, especially items that are fabric in nature, as these will almost certainly become damaged with exposure. On days or nights when you’d like to use your patio during winter, you can just retrieve them for the time and return them back into storage when you’ve enjoyed your outdoor space.
Taking care of your lawn
Often, people will ignore their lawns during the winter, however following these steps will improve the health of your soil and likely yield a more beautiful lawn the following year.
- Aerate your soil
Aerating your soil is an important part of preparing your garden for winter. Aeration loosens compacted soil, allowing water and nutrients to reach the roots of your plants. This helps to improve drainage and prevent root rot. Aeration also helps to break up thatch, which can prevent new growth in the spring.
- Perform a soil test and add fertilizer
Test your soil and fertilize it before winter. The winter season can be very harsh on your soil, and if it is not properly taken care of, it will become depleted of nutrients. By testing your soil and fertilizing it before winter, again, you will improve soil quality and the likelihood of having a beautiful lawn in spring.
- Apply winter mulches after the ground freezes
Mulching in winter helps to protect plants from extreme weather conditions, and helps conserve moisture. Applying a winter mulch after the ground has frozen in winter is the best way to ensure that your plants are protected. Winter mulches help to keep the ground frozen, which prevents heaving and frost damage. It will also prevent plants from growing before the right time in spring as plants will enter a dormant phase.
There are many different types of winter mulches that you can choose from. Some of the most popular options include straw, pine needles, and shredded bark.
These outdoor space ideas can help you enjoy your porch or patio all winter long, and prepare your lawn so it comes back better than ever.
If you’d like to find out more about seasonal living in New Jersey or if you’d like to inquire about homes in Somerset, New Jersey, contact our team by calling 908.436.7947 or by sending an email to here.