Tag Archive for: yard space

The Ultimate Winter Maintenance Checklist

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Winter can cause serious and irreversible damage to a home if preventative maintenance is not complete. Everything from outdoor furniture to walkways, lawns, and garden beds can suffer due to the harsh conditions the season brings.

That’s why preventative maintenance is essential to the landscape. These simple tasks below are guaranteed to prevent the harsh conditions from taking a toll on your outdoor space.

1. Clean Gutters and Downspouts

 Although not the most glamorous of tasks, cleaning out gutters and downspouts is one of the most critical things owners can do to prepare their property for the winter.

Gutters and downspouts help with proper drainage throughout the colder months and will need to be clear of any leaves, debris, or garbage that could be blocking its path. Otherwise, without a clear path, water and ice can quickly build up leading to water overflows and ice dams. Both of which could result in a costly repair bill to the gutter and building.

Further, the gutters and downspouts should be checked to see that they are in good working condition. Meaning, that there are no holes, sags, or missing parts that could cause a mess if won’t drain properly.

2. Complete a Roof Check

Another area of a building that owners will need to check is the roof. Every fall, it’s important to complete an inspection of it by examining the condition that the shingles are in. Of course, this process is best handled by a professional who will know exactly what to look for and what is cause for concern.

While on the roof, they will be looking for any obvious signs of damage such as missing or curling shingles. These will likely need to be replaced before winter comes given that they can turn into a more serious problem. That’s because the freezing and thawing can result in water damage to the roof and building if they are loose.

3. Feed the Lawn

To have your grass looking its best post-winter, make sure to complete maintenance on it in the fall. This is because the grass will actually begin to store food for itself as soon as temperatures drop. To do this, make sure that the area is fertilized at least once or twice in the fall. That way, come spring, the lawn will come up faster and greener.

4. Prepare the Deck

 If you live in an area that gets snow and ice over the winter, it is critical to prepare any features like a deck, pergola, or veranda. Doing this is simple, yet essential, to maintaining these features for years to come.

To prepare them for winter start by giving them a good wash. This can be done by hand, or with the help of a professional who can power wash it to remove any grime and dirt. While doing this, it is also a good opportunity for owners to inspect it for any loose boards, nails, holes, debris, or issues.

Also, keep in mind, that if you’ve been thinking of staining or changing the look of it, fall is the perfect time to do this given the cool temperatures that allow you to stain and seal it.

5. Store Your Tools

Tools should not be left outside during the harsh winter months. This can cause them to rust, degrade and even possibly break due to the change in weather. This is especially true for any gas-operated tools which can become difficult to re-start and use in the spring if they have not been properly stored. If you do have gas-powered tools, owners will need to either drain them or add a fuel stabilizer to ensure that it does not degrade the item as it gets cold.

While storing these tools, it’s also a good idea to pull out and prepare any winter item you will need to use. For example, things like shovels and snow blowers should be checked in the fall. That way, once the first snowfall hits owners are prepared, regardless of what it brings.

Winter Maintenance Checklist

At State of the Art Landscaping, we know first-hand how important it is to prepare your outdoor space for the winter. That’s why we believe in using a professional to guide you through what needs to be done. Someone like us can assess, customize, and help you create the ultimate winter maintenance checklist for your space.

If you want to learn what needs to be done around your property this fall, consider getting in touch with a member of our team today.

7 Seasonal Landscaping Tips to Keep Your Yard Space Looking Beautiful This Fall

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Colder weather brings more than frigid temperatures when it comes to the outdoors. From the snow, sleet, rain, leaves, and debris that seasonal changes cause, you might struggle to maintain your yard space.

But, failing to maintain your property during the colder months can cause quite a bit of trouble. Not only will it be an eye-sore to potential clients, but it puts your business at risk. Having unkempt grounds can be dangerous and lead to slips, falls, property damage, infestations, and more.

Given how important it is to maintain your yard space, we’ve compiled our top tips to keep your outdoor areas looking beautiful this fall.

1. Turn Over Mulch

The fall is the perfect time to give your mulch a refresh. So, if you use mulch in any area of your commercial space, take advantage of the crisper air to refresh it. This time of year is perfect for it because the summer tends to bring harsh sunlight which can deteriorate it. Simply turning over the current layer will help to extend the mulch’s lifespan, all while improving the property’s curb appeal.

2. Dethatch

Thatch is dead grass roots and stems which naturally build up on lawns over time. Although a natural part of the landscape, it is something that you will want to remove. Having dead roots and stems around your property can be an eyesore. Plus, these added elements can even harm the health of the landscape as it creates a perfect nesting spot for insects and rodents. That’s why it’s important to remove them come the fall.

3. Protect Shrubs and Trees

It’s a good idea to wrap new shrubs and trees around your property before the temperatures really begin to drop. The wrapping should be done before the first frost of the season as a way to protect and maintain them through the cold. Wrapping your trunks with a weather-approved material (or burlap) works as a wind barrier. In turn, keeping out the freezing temperatures and reducing any salt damage caused by de-icing in the winter.

4. Remove Fall Annuals and Protect Perennials

If you’ve planted seasonal fall annuals, you must have these removed before the colder months move in. Otherwise, keeping these plants around your property in the winter will leave it looking bare.

To replace these in your space, consider planting some cold-resistant perennial plants that can add life back to the space. When planting these perennials, it’s suggested to have the stems within an inch from the ground. This inch of space can then be filled with things like pine needles, straw, or hay to help protect the plant during the colder months. Otherwise, a damaging freeze could kill the plants and ruin the appeal of the outdoor space.

5. Schedule Tree Trimming

The perfect time of year to remove dead or overgrown branches is in the colder months. That’s because many trees and shrubs are dormant during this time of year. And when a plant is dormant, it won’t waste energy trying to recover from the trimming.

6. Prepare Snow Load Areas

If your property is in an area that experiences heavy snow in the winter, begin preparing for it in the fall. This means you should come up with a plan on where to put it all. These snow loading areas should free any plants, and not block any sort of pathways or entries to your building. The area that’s chosen should also be easy to access (either on foot or by snowplow operators). As well, depending on the size of your property, you may want to consider setting up multiple load zones. Keep in mind these zones should also be able to accommodate the heaviness of it. So, try to pick an area that contains a layer of mulch or grass.

7. Be Mindful of Sand and Salt

Commercial property owners tend to use a lot of salt, or ice melt to prevent slips and falls. However, if you can avoid over-salting during the season, it’s highly recommended. This means rethinking some drainage strategies in the fall that prevent puddles and pooling water. Doing this will minimize ice from building up, and the need to use as much. As well, be mindful to clean up all sand and salt as soon as possible. Not doing this will burn plants and damage the soil and surrounding environment.

Ultimately, we understand how difficult it can be to maintain your commercial months when the weather changes. That’s why we suggest speaking with a member of our team. With more than sixty years of combined experience, State of the Art Landscape is able to provide superior landscape advice and service that’s customized for you.

If you’d be interested in seeing how we could help your business thrive, get in touch at 703-421-3666 or email admin@stateoftheartlandscape.com.