Taking care of your outdoor property is an enjoyable activity in the summer. Many people feel that once they have raked up the leaves, they are done with yard work until the next spring. However, this is not the case. Every aspect of your landscaping, from the grass to small flowerbeds, will find some care and attention throughout the year beneficial. Keep reading for the best ways you can keep your landscape looking healthy and lush even in the depths of winter. Taking care of your landscape in winter will make it easier to care for in the spring and summer.

Increase Airflow in Soil

The cold temperatures and inclement weather of the wintertime can cause the soil under your plants to become dense and compacted. This can be caused by intense weight or prolonged exposure to foot traffic and can be made permanent by freezing. The soil will become dryer and will transfer fewer nutrients to plant roots. There are machines that can aerate your soil and allow for greater airflow. An aerating tool can be purchased or rented through many major retailers.

Keep Your Equipment in Good Working Order

While your landscaping equipment should always be well maintained, you should take the opportunity of packing it up to tune-up the parts that need it. Give your tools a good cleaning and tighten any moving parts. Be sure to sharpen the blades on your mower so they can continue to cut your grass cleanly. Dull blades can tear at grass instead, leaving bald patches in your lawn. Be sure to organize your lawn care equipment in an easy-to-use and functional design.

Rake Properly

If your neighborhood features trees that drop their leaves at different times of the year, raking could be a task that goes on for some time. Very often, there will be snow on the ground before every leaf is raked up. Missing a patch of leaves can lead to fungal growth or water buildup. This can cause bald spots on your lawn when the weather warms up.

Continue to Remove Weeds

Letting weeds gain a foothold on your landscape in the winter will just make them more difficult to eradicate in the spring. They can choke the development of new growth. Weeds are especially easy to notice after a few mild days. Removing weeds by their roots can be done by hand or with a “pre-emergent” weed killer. This type of pesticide stops weeds from growing at germination. Keeping weeds from taking over your landscape in the winter will make the space easier to maintain when the weather gets warmer.