When the air starts to feel crisp and the first hard freeze whispers its arrival. Most homeowners tuck their gardens away and call it a season. That’s understandable. But here’s what we tell homeowners, a few smart moves now mean a healthier yard come spring. A little effort on landscape maintenance in Commerce City, CO, goes a long way, honestly, it’s the difference between a peaceful spring and a costly cleanup.
How You Can Protect Your Yard in Harsh Weather
In this blog, we will walk you through the things that actually matter. What to do this month. What to leave alone, and how snow, ice, and cold will affect your yard. Real advice and practices that save you time, money, and a lot of hassle.
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Start With the Basics
If your priority is to protect your lawn in winter. Late fall prep is where you should begin. The lawn remembers how it’s treated before the freeze, so let’s give it a fighting chance.
Do this:
- Mow one last time. A bit shorter than usual, but don’t scalp it.
- Rake leaves or mulch them finely. Thick wet leaf layers smother the grass.
- Apply a winterizing fertilizer (higher in potassium) to strengthen roots.
- Aerate compacted areas so water and nutrients can penetrate better.
We’ve seen yards that got skipped in November and paid for it come April. A simple aeration and a proper final mow keep the lawn healthier, resist freeze damage, and bounce back faster.
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Mulch and Shelter
Mulch is cheap insurance. A nice, even 2–4 inch layer around borders conserves heat and holds moisture steady. For shrubs and perennials, mulch acts like a blanket. It reduces thaw-freeze cycles that can heave roots out of the ground.
If you’ve got young trees or vulnerable shrubs. Consider burlap wraps or frost blankets on wind-exposed sides. It’s quick, it’s affordable, and it prevents bark splitting and windburn.
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Manage Snow Smartly
Snow itself can be helpful. A light, even cover insulates the ground. But when snow piles up against shrubs, or when you shovel heavy drifts onto beds, that’s when problems start, and you need Landscaping maintenance in Commerce City, CO.
A few rules you should follow:
- Brush heavy snow off branches gently. Don’t shake them.
- Don’t dump plowed or shoveled snow on plant beds. The ice and salt can rot roots.
- When using deicer, choose pet- and plant-friendly options. Salt can damage grass and negatively impact soil biology.
Think of snow as a partner, leave it to insulate when it’s light. Manage it when it’s heavy, and don’t let it become a weapon against your plants.
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Prune Trees and Shrubs
Loose or dead limbs become projectiles under heavy snow. A short pruning session in late fall, like removing deadwood and crossing branches, reduces the risk of breakage. Also, structural pruning on young trees helps them grow stronger. So they withstand weight and wind next season.
One more thing: water deeply before the ground freezes if we’ve had dry spells. It gives woody plants moisture they can use through winter dormancy.
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Stop Hardscape and Drainage Freeze Damage
Driveways, patios, and walkways suffer when water collects and freezes in cracks. Clean gutters, clear downspouts, and make sure drainage directs water away from foundations.
If you have visible cracks, patch them now. If you wait until spring, those cracks will be worse and more expensive after repeated freeze-thaw cycles.
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Irrigation and Winter Watering
Also, before you shut down sprinklers, run a full system check. Fix leaks, adjust heads, and drain lines properly to avoid burst pipes.
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Snow Impact on Landscaping
After heavy snow or an ice event, walk the property. Look for:
- Branches bowed tight under weight (don’t yank them straight, gently remove snow).
- Turf areas with compacted snow. They can suffocate grass if left too long.
- Salt or chemical runoff near plant beds.
Early detection saves you a lot of effort later. Sometimes a quick tidy-up is all it takes to keep a plant from dying.
Winter Outdoor Maintenance Checklist
If you want a short, actionable list, here is our winter checklist for landscape maintenance in Commerce City, CO:
- Final mow, aerate, and winterize fertilizer.
- Mulch beds and wrap sensitive shrubs/trees.
- Prune dead/dangerous branches.
- Check and winterize irrigation and water young plants on warm days.
- Clear gutters and direct drainage away from foundations.
- Choose safe deicers and avoid piling snow on beds.
- Seal small cracks in hardscape now, before freeze cycles expand them.
Follow that, and your spring cleanup will be shorter and more satisfying.
Final Thoughts
Winter doesn’t have to mean neglect. If we take these simple steps now, landscape maintenance in Commerce City, CO, becomes manageable rather than maddening. We protect lawns, spare trees from damage, and keep patios and driveways in good shape. The payoff? A yard that comes back quickly in spring, ready for planting and play.
If you’d rather not tackle all this yourself, that’s fine, we can help. We at Ascend Landscaping & Irrigation can handle everything from aeration and mulching to pruning and irrigation winterization. Let’s book a time to walk your property, decide priorities, and get your landscape on the right path before the next freeze. Call us to schedule landscape maintenance service, and sleep easier knowing your yard’s ready for whatever winter brings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When should I start winter landscape maintenance in Commerce City, CO?
Ans: Start in late fall, after the last big warm spell but before the heavy freezes begin. That timing helps protect roots and reduces winter stress.
Q: What’s the biggest snow impact on landscaping?
Ans: Heavy, wet snow can break branches and compact turf. Remove excess snow gently, and don’t pile it on your flower beds.
Q: Should I water my plants during winter?
Ans: Yes, but only on days above freezing. Occasional deep watering helps young plants and new sod stay hydrated through the cold.
