We know it is winter, and we all want a break from caring for our lawn and landscape. However, even during winter weather, there are things we can do to protect our lawn and landscape investments. Our residential lawn care team in Batavia has gathered those tips for you
Tip #1: Use snow stakes along your driveway and walkways.
We repair thousands of dollars of snow plow and shovel damage in lawns in the spring and find that customers who use snow stakes on curb and driveway edges have significantly less damage. Snow stakes sit about 4 feet out of the ground and are hammered right in on the curb/driveway edge to identify the edge of the road/driveway and yard. They can be purchased at home improvement stores. Invest the small amount ($30-40) now as a preventative measure to save money, time, and headaches in the spring!
Seeding or sodding in the spring can cost hundreds to thousands of dollars to fix. You’ll also have to deal with a muddy mess until the new grass is established.
Tip #2: Keep salt out of the yard.
Most people use salt and ice melt products to keep their walkways safe or to break down the ice during the winter. Unfortunately, sodium chloride is bad for the lawn, so if you use it on the driveway or sidewalk, try to minimize the quantity along the edges and shovel the salt down to the street side.
Tip #3: Use non-sodium ice melt.
On small areas like sidewalks, use something that is safer for the lawn and plants. Calcium chloride and a few other ice melt products are not only safer for the lawn, they are safer for your pets’ feet as well. Sand also works to provide traction. Read the label first! Salt can cause a mild chemical burn to your hands, so be careful not to let it get into your gloves.
Tip #4: Use care when knocking snow off shrubs.
The weight of the snow can be a concern to the health of your ornamental shrubs. Be careful when trying to knock snow off the branches of the smaller evergreens. We have seen several shrubs damaged when the homeowner tried to “help” the shrub by knocking off the snow. If you have access to one, use a leaf blower instead of a shovel.
Tip #5: Throw snow away from shrubs.
While a small amount of snow on shrubs can protect them from harsh temperatures, too much snow can be harmful to them. Be selective where you throw your snow and your shrubs will thank you.
Tip #6: Remember how fun snow used to be!
Living in the Batavia area, we are blessed with four seasons, so don’t forget to try to enjoy some of the wintry weather. Make a snow angel, build a snowman, toss a snowball at your loved one, and take time to watch a snowflake fall all the way to the ground.
Tip #7: Winterize your mower.
A mower that sits with gas in the tank and carburetor all winter will have damage to the rubber and plastic parts and the carburetor. The solvents in the gas evaporate when they sit too long leaving a plasticized coating upon many of the very small carburetor parts and orifices causing the machine to not start or run properly.
Many people will just run the gas out, but this can still leave leftover fuel in the bowl of the carburetor. Adding a fuel stabilizer (like Sta-bil or others) improves the likelihood that the gas will not plasticize while it sits in the carburetor without running for a long period of time. Even a small amount of gas can cause the float and pin to stick open or closed, which can lead to a mower that won’t start in Spring.
Ready for Residential Lawn Care from the Experts in Batavia?
Maintaining your lawn and landscape is a year-around process. For more information or tips, feel free to contact us. We’re here for you and your turf with proven techniques, best-in-class products, and industry-leading equipment. Everything we do in your lawn is rooted in science, knowledge, and experience, so you get the best results possible, guaranteed, in:
- Batavia
- Naperville
- St. Charles
- Wheaton
- Downers Grove
- Glen Ellyn
- Aurora
- Lisle
- Lombard
- West Chicago
- Winfield
- Geneva
- And throughout the surrounding area
Contact us today to find out more about residential lawn care in Batavia, IL.
