Prep the property to hold up through Chicago snow and thaw cycles — without spring damage.
Nothing adds excitement to your spring landscape like a colorful blend of bulbs. Tulips, hyacinth, and daffodils all require planting in the fall so they stay cool throughout the winter season and bloom in the spring.
Schedule the winterization and shut-down of your sprinkler system before the first hard freeze. Water left in the lines can crack pipes, valves, and backflow preventers — a winter repair you do not want to be on the hook for.
If you currently have a system in place, make sure all the lights are in proper working order before the winter months. Snow and frozen ground make fixture access difficult to impossible later.
Schedule holiday greens for containers to help create welcoming entrances and focal points to your home. Garlands and wreaths also make for an inviting welcome for guests.
Call to schedule dormant pruning for your trees and shrubs to improve health and structure. Pruning also maintains the size and natural form, while extending their useful life.
Winter mulching — why fall mulch isn't just cosmetic · Winter mulching reduces frost heave and freeze damage, delays the early emergence of bulbs and perennials, insulates perennials from harsh cold winters, and improves soil nutrients as it breaks down.
Newly planted trees should be wrapped for at least two winters — thin-barked species up to five winters or more. Protect multi-stemmed evergreen trees from storm damage by tying trunks with nylon or twine. Remove these items when warmer weather emerges.
Transfilm is an anti-desiccant that effectively reduces the water loss of plants. Coating the leaves with a thin film of Transfilm provides a water-impermeable barrier that reduces water loss from transpiration — especially valuable for broadleaf evergreens facing winter wind.
