Winter Is Right Around the Corner! House & Yard Winterizing Tips for the Tahoe Homeowner
The air has cooled off in the Tahoe-Truckee area quite a bit and winter is just right around the corner, maybe. The beginning of winter here is so unpredictable; you just never know if tomorrow is going to be summer or winter. You could wake up with fresh snow on the ground it could be here for good. Here’s your guide for the end of fall wrap-up to winterize your home and yard before get the proverbial tuck-in from Mother Nature.
Finish Cutting Back Your Perennials
If your garden beds have not been cut back yet, now is the time to do it! Some people wait until Spring to cut-back but I think new growth on perennials looks much better with the old stuff cut back in the fall. If you are a newer homeowner or gardner this term may be foreign to you. “Cutting back” is cutting off all the foliage of perennials that are not woody (think flowers not shrubs). How far do you “cut back”? I leave just a few inches. It allows plants to go dormant and not expend further energy on foliage. It also makes plants come back fuller and thicker.
Trim your shrubs and tie them up!
To keep your shrubbery from getting “leggy” you need to trim them. Sometimes its hard to see their shape with the leaves off but just take a good guess and your shrubs will thank you. Like cutting back, trimming shrubs keeps them growing fuller. They like it. If a shrub has gotten particularly leggy don’t be afraid of giving it an aggressive trim; in the long run it will be a much fuller, happier shrub!
It is also time to tie up your shrubs. This may seem pretty foreign to many. Even as a New Englander I was confused as to why I saw trees and shrubs being tied up in the fall. Tahoe’s heavy, deep snowfall can wreak havoc on many a lovely shrub or tree. Tying them up can help prevent damage due to the snow by keeping the branches in and up. You can buy tape for these purposes at nurseries and hardware stores up here. I personally prefer the brown tape because it blends in more with the natural colors. I start at the bottom and work my way up and cinch the shrub in as much as possible. I don’t tie up my trees unless they are newer and branches aren’t as strong. I also am here full time so have the opportunity to shake off trees after a heavy snowfall to prevent the bend from happening. Aspens are particularly prone to the bend. Staking trees can also help prevent this.
Transplant/Split Perennials and Plant New Plants
Fall is a great time to transplant (move) plants. The biggest thing to remember is to give them lots of water and fertilizer which I often forget because you’ve stopped watering everything! It is a great time to let plants get established during their dormant time though and also a great time to take advantage of sales at nurseries. Just know ahead of time where you need what because most plants in the nursery will be getting cut back as well.
Biosol!
Don’t forget to fertilize everything before the snow! I like Biosol. It’s a slow releasing natural fertilizer. Biosol spring and fall!
Finish Defensible Space
Its easier to get the pine needles and leaves up in the fall than in the spring, as much of a nuisance as it is. Once they’ve had the winter snow on them I find it messier and harder to deal with in the spring. Plus it gives you that much less to do in the spring! Which means more time for new gardening and yard projects!
Irrigation
Get those hoses coiled up and away so they don’t get damaged! Also do any winterizing necessary for your hose bibs. Do yours have shut offs? If so shut them off and bleed the lines. Also make sure you take care of any irrigation winterization you need to like bleeding the lines.
Snow Removal Foresight
If you get your driveway plowed you may need to make sure you have poles lining your driveway. Consult your plow company and get on it! If you don’t have a plow company yet, I’d sign that contract ASAP. If you snowblow make sure your blower is accessible and you’ve got gas ready to go.
Frozen Pipe Protection
It’s been in the 30’s at night for some time now so it’s definitely not too early to start your away from the house winter routines. Whether that is turning off the water and bleeding the lines, keeping your thermostat to 55 or making sure the Nest is working properly, do it now so you don’t risk frozen pipes.
Be Woodstove (Or Gas Stove) Ready
Order that firewood and get to stacking! We prefer to have a mix of hard wood and soft wood. Soft wood is easier to get the fires started and hard wood is better to keep a consistent fire going for longer. Many firewood companies offer stacking services as well. Don’t forget the tarps!
If you have a gas-stove or gas-fireplace it is wise to get the pilot lit so that when you arrive and it is chilly you don’t have to fuss around with lighting it. Then you can just flip the switch and get cozy quick!
There are plenty of companies around the area that offer many of these services if you need some help getting ready. Please feel free to reach out and let me know if you need help finding help!