The first day of Fall came over the weekend last Saturday, Sep. 23. While Coloradans and Denverites get in the mood for autumn festivities and perhaps some spooky fun – it’s easy to be reminded we don’t have long until winter. For this year, Colorado’swinter may be very different from the ones in previous years, thanks to El Nino. Homes and businesses should take the necessary precautions to prepare their landscapes, lawns, and irrigation systems for an El Nino winter.
What is El Nino
For the last year, we have been told that the weather around us has been shifting which can cause minor or large differences to typical weather we have been used to in the past two to seven years. El Nino is a climate shift in which warming of the sea surface temperatures affects larger climate patterns. More simply put, El Nino can have widespread effects on weather patterns across the globe and Colorado will definitely feel the impact. The new weather patterns traditionally mean heavier, wetter snow. Not every year produces a great amount of snow but overall trends and past history suggest that El Nino winters give better snowfall. The snow can also come sooner and harder than most residents are accustomed to which also means more stress for landscapes, trees, plants, lawns, and sprinklers if not protected adequately.
Heavier Snowfall and Your Landscape
In the past, La Nina has played a large role in the past three winters across the United States. La Niña exerted a significant influence on winter weather and has caused dry conditions in the Southern regions while delivering much-needed snowfall to certain areas in the Western states. For El Nino, one of the main characteristics behind this weather pattern is the movement of the jet stream, which frequently shifts southward during an El Niño winter. This shift commonly results in increased precipitation and cooler temperatures in the Southern regions, while the Northern areas experience drier and warmer conditions, as reported by NOAA.
Overall, this means your property’s trees, plants, and landscapes are at risk for quick and heavy snow which can cause damage in multiple areas if you are not prepared.
Preparing your landscape for winter
There are numerous things that can be done to better prepare your home or business for the incoming winter. But here are some of Xander Landscaping’s essential items one should be on the lookout for:
Cleaning up the landscape and garden
Removing dead annuals and harvested vegetable plants is a good place to start this fall. Taking away these ‘spent’ plants will help clear your soil from being packed down and blocked from receiving sunlight. This is especially important when it comes to snowmelt, as the ground still needs the snow to melt and run effectively. Bunches of dead plants and flowers can impede that causing drainage issues for your garden and landscape.
In addition to cleaning up dead plants and foilage that might block your healthy landscape, be sure to take the same amount of time hunting down weeds. Weeds are very much like your grass, where there are nutrients weeds will thrive. The problem is weeds will overtake your grass by stealing those valuable nutrients – especially when cooler and drier seasons come around. So be sure to mark and remove as many weeds as possible before the first snow comes rolling in.
Tree maintenance and pruning
Another important item to consider for your property’s landscaping is its trees. Sudden and heavy snow can be hazardous for trees. If a tree is overgrown or has not been properly pruned in quite some time it can be in weakened condition to have limbs break off or even the entire tree can fall over. This situation becomes even more dire if said tree is overtaking an overhead electrical powerline or a home! While the weather is still manageable, take some time to prune dead branches or consult your landscaper for the best option in ensuring your trees are not at risk.
For newer trees and saplings, consider reinforcing and winterizing them. This can be done by wrapping supportive materials like, plastic, mesh, and so on to help them withstand potential frost cracking. Also, for heavier winds and snow, staking supports around the tree sapling is also beneficial.
Winterize your irrigation system and sprinkler blowouts
“Do I really need to winterize my irrigation system?”. Homes all over Denver should take preventive measures to protect their irrigation systems and sprinklers from the inevitable freezing that will occur during winter. Whether homeowners manually drain their sprinkler and irrigation systems, or businesses hire a landscape contractor for a sprinkler blowout service (even vice versa) – it is highly recommended to plan and schedule that maintenance before the first snow comes. With El Nino at the helm of our weather fronts, that is likely to be sooner rather than later. Water that is trapped or leftover from usage of regular watering of landscapes will freeze and expand which will cause damage to the irrigation lines. This results in costly repairs and replacements later on when warmer weather returns. If you have questions about winterizing your irrigation system and sprinklers, feel free to out to Xander Landscaping about proper methods and industry standards for care.
Your landscape maintenance is still needed during wintertime
Xander Landscaping wants to remind homeowners and businesses alike that just because snow starts accumulating does not mean your landscape is completely fine on its own. Without the right preparations, your property can see damages and unforeseen problems resulting from poor landscape maintenance. An El Nino winter can throw a couple of surprises our way here in Denver and that is even more reason to be prepared sooner. Reach out to Xander Landscaping for more information about proper care and landscaping services that are perfect for the end of the season.