Although the Arizona appeal largely has to do with the year-round warm weather, the fact that we offer snow removal services shows that the temperatures like to drop. With that comes a few things that affect your landscape. Because plant material and turf are so used to the warmth, the cold can be quite a shock. If your landscape is left unprepared, this can cause lasting damage to your most important outdoor investment. Lucky for you, Arizona is on the moderate end of the winter spectrum, so using these four ways to prepare your landscape for colder weather should do the trick.
Mulch Installation
The number one and most important way to prepare for colder weather is to make sure your mulch is in order. Mulch is the number one landscaping material, providing a myriad of benefits for your plant beds. First and foremost they act as insulation for your soil, which is the precise relevance of mulch to cold weather. However, mulch also prevents the spread of weeds and soil erosion. It also disperses nutrients to your soil as it decomposes. Mulch can be used for both plant beds and the base of trees, offering equal protection to both.
Fertilize Trees
Because of the more moderate temperatures that we experience in Arizona, your trees will actually continually grow through the colder season. The best way to assist them in these efforts is with tree fertilization. This concept is unique to our area, and motivating growth during the winter is not a common practice. However, the addition of nutrients to the root systems of your trees will help them push through any potential freeze with no damage. It will also help them better fend off any disease or pests looking to prey on the weakened plant material.
Prune Trees and Shrubs
This is the best time of year to engage in the trimming of your large plant material. Because your trees and shrubs are about to enter a more weakened state, they will have trouble fending off the spread of disease and decay. So, removing those pieces of plant material early on will enable your tree to replace decay with new growth. Just remember that you need to be conservative in this pruning, and err on the side of caution. If you over-prune you run the risk of stimulating way too much growth going into the winter. Make sure whatever is pruned, is dead.
Keep an Eye on Weather Data
Even though the most likely scenario is a minor drop in temperatures throughout the winter, there is still a potential for a severe freeze. If this freeze comes without your knowledge, you could run the risk of significant damage to your landscape. Your irrigation system needs to be shut off, and in some cases, plants need to be covered. The best way to be prepared is to know that the freeze is coming.
We design, build and maintain fully functioning yards that meet our clients’ needs and exceed their expectations through quality, integrity, efficiency, teamwork, and relationships. Give us a call at (928) 830-4061 today.
