It took a little while to get here, but winter has finally come to southeastern Pennsylvania! Homeowners are now presented with the challenge of winterizing and protecting their lawns and outdoor spaces while they wait for spring’s warmer weather to thaw things out again.

Here is a short checklist of some of the most important things you can do to take care of your lawn and garden this winter:

Keep the lawn clear: After spending a winter under a blanket of frost or snow, when spring comes you want your lawn to be primed to grow with optimal health and vitality. What you do now can help make sure that happens. Keep your lawn clear of heavy foot traffic as well as objects like toys, trash, or even parked vehicles. A lawn that is weighted and worn down over the course of the winter months can suffer from compaction and brown or bald spots come spring.

Prune your trees: Winter is the perfect time to prune most trees, as the lack of leaves makes it easy to see limbs that are damaged or dangling. Be sure to prune carefully, and be aware of some exceptions: Among trees, birch and maple are best pruned in late spring, as pruning them in winter can result in sap oozing out. Also, avoid pruning certain flowering shrubs until after their first bloom, as doing so beforehand runs the risk of pruning buds.

Put a wrap on it: Wrap vulnerable trees and plants in burlap for the winter. This will protect them not only from the harsh effects of freezing temperatures, snow, ice, and frigid winds, but also from damage done by rodents or other pests.

Don’t forget your hardscaping: Your lawn and garden aren’t the only areas that need care during winter! Hardscaping elements like outdoor furniture, fences, and irrigations systems need to be maintained, protected, and kept in good working order. Cover, secure, or temporarily bring outdoor furniture inside for the winter, and be sure to keep your driveways and walkways clear of ice and snow. You can also take advantage of the downtime to make sure your irrigation system, mower, and tools are all in good repair. As weather permits, winter is the perfect time to make repairs to your irrigation system as well as fences, gates, pergolas, and other hardscaping elements so that when spring comes, they are ready to be enjoyed.

Plan for spring: Now is the time to break out the seed catalogs and plan what you want to plant for spring. Map out what you want your garden to look like, decide what needs to be purchased, and place your orders so that you’ll be ready for spring planting.

Winter is a quieter time for lawns and gardens, but how much you’ll be able to enjoy the blossoming of spring depends on what you do now to protect and ready your landscaping. Wondering how to make the most of this season for your outdoor space? Talk to a professional landscaper today!