Ohio winters can be quite harsh. Trees and shrubs face a range of threats including cold, dry winds that dry out the trees, heavy snow that breaks branches and limbs, and freezing temperatures that burn plants’ leaves. Luckily, these can all be prevented with the right planning and effort.

Newly planted shrubs and trees should be protected the first few winters until they are well-established and can survive on their own. Less-hardy plants and potted plants may need protection every winter. Here are some tips on how to help your plants flourish in the cold, from Five Seasons Landscape Management.

Protect your plants with burlap.

Burlap is a popular product used to protect small trees, shrubs and potted plants from winter frost, snow and ice. It’s more effective than plastic because it allows the plants to breathe and the air inside to circulate, which prevents heat from getting trapped. Burlap is also eco-friendly, biodegradable, strong and affordable.

Where to buy burlap for plants

Burlap can be purchased as bags, blankets or fabric rolls. You can find burlap at home improvement stores like Lowes, big box stores like Walmart, and local fabric or craft stores. Natural burlap sold on rolls comes in different lengths and is easy to cut to size.

How to use burlap to protect plants

You can use stakes to set up burlap as a windbreak or wrap the plants with burlap, securing it with twine. Since these methods are so common among gardeners and landscapers, there are many instructional videos online you can view to help.

Winter mulching for plant protection

Mulching is one of the best lines of defense against cold winter temperatures. Whether you prefer traditional bark mulch, pine needles, straw or leaves, timing is everything. After applying the mulch three to four inches thick, pull some away from the trunks and stems of your plants so they can breathe.

When is the best time to apply mulch in fall?

Winter mulching is different from mulching in the spring and summer. When mulching for winter protection, it’s important not to mulch too soon. The best time is after the ground starts to freeze but before the first big snowfall. In Ohio, this usually occurs in November.

Why is winter mulching important?

The goal of winter mulching is to keep the ground around your plants frozen so the plants remain dormant. The thick layers of mulch protect the ground from the warmth of the sun. In addition, winter mulching helps conserve the water in your soil, so make sure you keep watering until the first major frost.

Salt can damage plants in winter

Did you know that salt and other de-icing products applied to the streets in winter can damage trees and shrubs? In fact, it can even kill them. Sure, it’s cheap and easy to apply, but rock salt is a concentrated and corrosive material that not only hurts your plants, it can also damage your driveway and burn your pet’s paws.

3 ways to protect your trees and shrubs from salt

You can’t control what your city uses to keep the roads clear and dry, but you can try to reduce or avoid the damaging effects.

1. Don’t use salt
   If you have plants near your driveway or walkways don’t use salt to melt the snow and ice. Worried about slipping? There are alternative and eco-friendly products you can use such as sand, gravel, birdseed and kitty litter.
2. Clear away snow piles
   Snow plows usually leave behind large piles of snow and chunks of ice at the end of driveways or on tree lawns that contains salt and other de-icing products. Make sure to clear this tainted snow away from your plants for added protection.
3. Put up barriers
   If you have trees or shrubs near the road or alongside your driveway, put up plastic fencing, snow fencing or burlap barriers to keep salt spray away from plants. Once spring comes around, flush the surrounding soil with water to push residual salt beyond your trees’ root zones.

Whether you use burlap, mulch or other protective measures, taking the time to prepare your trees, shrubs and plants for winter is worth the effort. Looking for more tips? In a previous article we discussed four ways to protect your plants from winter damage. If you have any questions, please contact Five Seasons Landscape Management. We provide commercial and residential landscape services and have experts on staff who can help!

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4 tips to protect plants from winter damage:

1. Fall is a great time to do the tune-ups necessary to protect your garden from winter damage.
   According to Better Homes and Gardens, a key part of preparing your garden for winter is cleaning up and covering up. Clean up by paring back your perennials and remove any slimy or wet leaves, as unwanted bugs and diseases can thrive in this environment. Cover up to ensure soil temperatures remain even and consistent. Simply spread a fresh, thick layer of mulch over your existing gardens for extra insulation.
2. Another method for protecting plants from frost and other winter damage is the use of plant covers.
   Plant covers are a simple and effective way to protect plants from the cold weather. They work by providing a warm, safe haven for plants to hide out until the spring thaw. One type of plant cover is called a frost blanket.
   Frost blankets protect your garden from winter damage by keeping cold air out, while allowing water and sunlight in. Typically, frost blankets are made from lightweight, breathable fabric and are usually UV-stabilized. This means they remain durable when exposed to sunlight and can last for several growing seasons.
   Row covers are similar to frost blankets, but they cover a larger area and are meant for an entire garden, as opposed to a single plant. You can read more about both frost blankets and row covers over.
3. Watering plants a few days before frost is expected is another way to prepare your garden for winter.
   Why does watering help? Wet soil holds more heat than dry soil, so when you water your plants before the first big frost you are, essentially, helping the soil retain heat. Be careful, however, not to water the plants too late in the season, as that can lead to frost heave.
   Frost heave occurs when the soil is exposed to freezing temperatures, while also being exposed to an excess amount of moisture. This results in alternating freezing and thawing conditions. The cold air that gets into the ground freezes the moisture that is already in the soil, turning it into small ice particles. These particles then form a layer of ice, which can lift the soil – and the plant – right out of the ground. This obviously has a very adverse effect on the plant and your garden. Luckily, this is avoidable as long as you take the right steps to protect your plans from frost.
4. Unfortunately, these tips may not be enough to fully protect all of your plants from frost and other forms of winter damage.
   For more tender plants, wintering indoors or in a cold frame may be the best idea.
   A cold frame is a short, enclosed box with a transparent roof (to let the sunlight in). It’s like a little greenhouse and its pretty easy to build one yourself. Cold frames provide the right amount of protection and insulation to keep more delicate plants alive through winter. According to Gardening Know How, cold frames are also a great way to harden plants prior to transplantation and to store hardy vegetables during the cold season.
   For more information about cold frames and how you can implement them in your winter gardening to protect your plants from frost and winter damage, check out.

Winter can be a dangerous time of year for your garden. But as long as you take the right steps and use a little gardening savvy it is relatively easy to make sure your plants survive. Whether you utilize winter plant covers, such as frost blankets, clean up and water your garden before the first frost, or to do all of the above tips combined, the time to start is now!

All of these tips are relatively simple to implement; in fact, most can be completed by one person without spending a ton of money. If you need assistance, however, be sure to contact the plant specialists at Five Seasons Landscape Management for help and advice.

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Irrigation blowout, close and winterizing

Once the bitter cold temperatures are upon us, the ground will inevitably freeze. You may think that draining your irrigation system is enough to protect it, but draining alone doesn’t remove all the water in the pipes. And we know what happens to water when it freezes: it turns into hard, damaging ice that can wreak havoc on your irrigation pipes.

The best way to protect your irrigation pipes over winter is to make sure all the water has been removed by thoroughly blowing out the system.

To properly blow the water out of your system you’ll need an air compressor. This means if you don’t own one, you need to rent one. Once you have a compressor and you’re ready to blow, you’ll need to make sure the pressure is regulated, because too much pressure can damage the pipes. And wear protective glasses, just in case.

Sure, you can accomplish this task yourself; however, you better know what you’re doing to avoid damaging your valves from too much pressure. Or, you can call a professional who has the right tools and experience to blow out your irrigation system, stress-free!

Leaf removal and composting

If you have trees, you probably have fallen leaves; and to protect your grass from being smothered, and potentially dying, you need to remove them. After you blow, rake or mow the leaves away, you might consider recycling them into compost. Why? Composting leaves is an easy way to create an organic, nutrient-rich additive for your garden soil. Plus, you’re recycling!

According to The Compost Guide, the leaves of most trees contain twice as many minerals as manure. But merely raking leaves into piles and leaving them sit until spring does not produce the right result. To avoid being stuck with a soggy, matted, useless mess, you need to do a little more work.

First, determine where you want your compost pile(s) to hang out over winter. One option is to buy some inexpensive chicken wire to contain your compost; it’s not only cheap, it’s also easy to work with. Bend the wire into a circle or square; it doesn’t matter the shape. You just need a way to contain the leaves so they don’t blow away.

Next, you need leaves. Using your lawnmower to collect leaves saves time. Plus, the mower’s blades shred the leaves into smaller sizes, which makes them easier to work with.

To speed up the decomposing process (after all, you want to use the compost in spring) you need to add a source of nitrogen. Common choices include grass clippings, manure, nitrogen fertilizer, or a compost activator. When adding manure or grass clippings, use a five to one ratio. When adding fertilizer or activator, simply follow the directions on the package.

Compost also needs oxygen, so give your piles a stir every couple of weeks to keep the air circulating. When spring arrives you’ll have some prime organic matter to mix in with your garden soil.

Spring bulb planting

Now’s the time when the ground is cold enough to plant your spring bulbs. Ohio favorites include daffodils and tulips! Make sure to pick an area in your yard where the bulbs will get full sun. The size of the bulb affects how deep you need to plant them; basically, a three-to-one ratio. So, if a bulb is 2 inches long, plant it 6 inches deep.

And remember to plant your bulbs pointy side up (root side down). If you have compost, add it to the soil for extra nutrients, then water the bulbs so they can settle in. And don’t be afraid to get creative. These spring flowers don’t need to be planted in a row. To add a little drama to your yard, why not group different bulbs together? Then, just wait until spring for your colorful surprise! You can read more about spring bulb planting in this previous article.

Fall is the perfect time for irrigation close and winterizing, leaf removal and composting, and spring bulb planting. So, get out there and enjoy the cooler weather and beautiful landscapes. As always, if you have questions on your outdoor yard projects, just contact us for help.

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