Winter in the Tri-Cities is quiet outside, but it’s not a season to ignore your yard completely. A little attention now protects the work you’ve put in all year and sets up a much easier spring.
Confirm your irrigation system is actually shut down
If your sprinkler system was blown out and shut down before the first hard freeze, you’re in good shape. If you’re not sure, or you moved into a new place this fall, get it checked. A system that still has water sitting in the lines when temperatures drop can crack pipes, valves, and sprinkler heads underground, and you won’t know until you turn it back on and find a leak in April. It’s a fast check now, and a far bigger repair later.
Stay off frosted grass
Frozen grass blades are brittle. Walking across a frosted lawn, even just to grab the mail, can snap the blades and leave brown footprint trails that stay visible for weeks. Save the shortcuts across the yard for the afternoon, once the frost has burned off.
Check on turf and putting greens
Synthetic turf and putting greens handle Tri-Cities winters well, but ice and snow buildup can still affect drainage if debris has collected in the infill. A quick brush-off after a snowfall keeps the surface draining the way it’s designed to.
Look over your hardscapes
Freeze and thaw cycles are hard on natural stone, mortar joints, and paver patios. Check for small cracks or shifting after a cold snap, especially around steps and retaining walls. Small issues are simple to fix in winter and much more expensive once they’ve had a full freeze-thaw season to grow.
Winter is when we design what you’ll enjoy this summer
Here’s what most homeowners don’t realize: winter is actually the best time to start planning a paver patio, outdoor kitchen, or backyard makeover. Design takes time, and starting the conversation now means your project is ready to build as soon as the weather turns, instead of waiting in line behind everyone who called in April.
Ready for spring before spring gets here
Forty years of Tri-Cities winters have shown us that the yards that come out of winter looking their best are the ones that got a little attention along the way, and the outdoor living projects that get built fastest are the ones planned during the slow season.
If you want your irrigation checked, your hardscapes looked over, or you’re ready to start talking about next year’s project, get in touch now while the schedule is open.
Schedule a Consultation and let’s get your yard, and your plans, ready for the season ahead.