Pumpkin spice lattes have had their turn, and it’s peppermint hot chocolate time now! Flowers and plants are also feeling a change in the air, and need your help with winter’s harsh temperatures, wind, and snow. We have compiled a short list for our homeowners for winter-proofing of their outdoor plants and flowers. Along with our tips below, please know that we here at Modern Landscapes are ready to help homeowners in southeastern Pennsylvania with all their winter outdoor needs.

• Southeastern Pennsylvania is hardiness zones 6b and 7a. If you have plants that fall outside of what is generally grown in our area, please follow the directions especially for those plants and flowers to keep them hardy and safe through winter.

• Now is a good time to test your soil and add any nutrients your plants may need for spring. The soil will enrich under its winter blanket of mulch with your help, and will yield spring and summer’s beautiful colors to enjoy.

• Mulch, mulch, mulch. After the ground freezes, put on that blanket of mulch!  Before you do, though, weed, weed, weed. Weeding now gives you a jump start on the spring planting.

• Pull up your annual plants and flowers before the ground freezes hard. At the same time you will pull up bugs, and remove plant disease for next year. Your reward will be healthier and happier flowers and plants next year.

• Dig up and turn your garden beds. Add compost now so your soil can digest all the nutrients. Then cover with mulch to hold down the weeds, and also to amend the soil.

• Perennials will benefit from being cleaned up and divided now. Perennials with great seedheads, such as coneflowers, if not dividing,

can be left alone. Birds will happily eat the seeds through the winter. Other perennials will come back well and healthier if you cut them back to less than two inches above the soil at this time. Again, cleaning up leaves will help remove bugs and disease.

• Your veggie garden will also do better if you get rid of dead or decaying remains now. Like the annuals, you will remove pests while you clean and weed. Checking the soil, adding nutrients, and dressing with mulch will also all be applicable here.

• Evergreens will thrive through the winter if they get a thorough watering before the ground freezes. They stand up to so much with the cold, ice, snow, and wind that giving them that extra deep watering will help sustain them through our Pennsylvania winter.

• Young trees and shrubs will winter better if they are covered in tree wrap, burlap, or other breathable fabric. Do not use plastic as it will not allow the plant to breathe.

Homeowners in southeastern Pennsylvania have the benefits of great soil and a wonderful range of growing options for blooming plants and flowers. Winter is a time of planning and sketching next year’s yard, especially after you have made sure your landscape is ready for the cold weather.

At Modern Landscapes we are here to help you with all your landscaping and hardscaping needs. Please feel free to call one of our knowledgeable professionals or contact us through our website with any questions, or if you need our help in your yard with planning and installation for your great outdoors!