When the signs of winter are clear, it’s time to winterize your commercial properties. It’s important to stay on top of these maintenance tasks to prevent damage to your property, maintain property value, ensure safety, improve efficiency, and enhance curb appeal. Winter landscape maintenance is an investment in your property's long-term health and value. So, what are the best ways to winterize your commercial outdoor space?
Whether you and your time planted and maintained a beautiful landscape or paid professionals for the upkeep, protecting your landscape in the winter helps safeguard your time and money investment and provide peace of mind when spring returns.
Yes, mulching. Many people think mulching a property is only done in the spring; however, there are many benefits to doing this in the winter, and there are many types suitable for winter protection. These benefits include protecting roots from frost, maintaining a consistent soil temperature, preventing soil erosion, and they can act as a barrier against winter elements like wind, rain, and snow. Some of the best mulch suitable for winter include Pine Bark Mulch, Cedar Mulch, Cypress Mulch, Playground Mulch, and other materials like grass clippings, compost, or clean straw.
There are many ways to protect your plants before the winter comes into full force. Ensure you winterize tender perennials by continuously watering, adding compost, and removing dead foliage. It’s also a good idea to wrap young trees and shrubs as they help with sun damage, keep pests like deer away, prevent ice and snow from resting on branches, and keep them safe from road salt. Applying anti-desiccant sprays will also help your plants survive whatever the winter may bring.
Protecting and maintaining your hardscape is just as important as your landscape, if not more. You must prepare your concrete, masonry, driveways, and walkways for harsh winter conditions for safety and to help with possible future investments.
Review the concrete and masonry around your commercial property for any cracks. If cracks are found, seal them immediately before the winter weather creates further problems. Sealing cracks and joints protects and prevents further damage, saving you money in the future.
If you notice cracks in driveways or walkways, it’s especially important to seal them before the winter due to safety concerns. The last thing you want is for an employee, customer, or client to fall due to a crack in your walkway.
You should stay on top of ice and snow removal when winter hits. Invest in quality tools like a good snow shovel and ice scrapers. Stock up on de-icers suitable for your climate and walkway materials. Some options include rock salt, calcium chloride, magnesium chloride, and pet-friendly de-icers.
If your commercial business has outdoor lighting or water features, you should know how to properly winterize them before the low temperatures and weather conditions move in. This prevents future investments in repairing or replacing if it’s done right.
It’s best to carefully remove and store lighting like string and solar lights in a cool, dry place. If your lights include batteries, remove them before putting them away indoors to prevent corrosion. If your property has hardwired fixtures, turn off the power at the breaker box and thoroughly clean dirt and debris to prevent moisture buildup. You can also use a silicone-based sealant to protect metal fixtures from rust.
Water features are a crucial part of your winter landscape maintenance. For pumps and filters, completely drain all the water from the pumps, filters, and tubing to prevent freezing and breakage. If there’s a pond on the property, drain as much water as possible and cover it to protect the ecosystem. For small fountains, add non-toxic antifreeze to prevent freezing.
Hopefully, this list of winterizing tips and tricks will help you with your winter landscape maintenance. By following these steps, you can protect your landscape, hardscape, outdoor lighting, and other outdoor features to prevent further damage and investments. Contact Minick Materials if you have questions or would like more information on mulch or our other products.