Arizona winters often come with mild temperatures, so unlike most of the rest of the country, you have the opportunity to maintain a green lawn throughout the entire year. However, you need to take good care of your lawn throughout the year to keep it healthy. If you need help preparing your yard for the winter in Arizona, trust Mesquite landscaping to keep your lawn looking great all year. Here’s what you need to know about winter landscaping care in Arizona during the winter months.

 

Take Lawn Care Seriously

If you don’t prepare your yard properly for winter in Arizona, the grass will go dormant. Not only does this mean that your lawn will be an unattractive shade of brown, but you’re also giving weeds a chance to take root. It’s hard to get rid of weeds once they have invaded your yard, so it is important to give your grass the nutrients it needs to stay healthy during cooler temperatures. Have your soil tested to ensure it has all the essential elements for healthy grass growth; potassium, nitrogen, and phosphorus are especially essential.

 

Consider Adding These Plants

Fall is the perfect time to plant certain seeds because the winter climate is milder than in other parts of the country. Go ahead and plan on planting flower bulbs in January or February so that they bloom at the right time, but if you want the following plants to take root, try planting them during the early fall months:

• Carnations
• African daisies
• Globe amaranth

 

Prune Your Trees

Pruning is critical for the health of your trees, and winter is the perfect time to perform this task. You need to prune your trees to make them more aesthetically pleasing. Pruning also prepares trees for healthy growth in the spring. However, pruning is a task you should never undertake yourself; professionals know how to shape trees and resolve potential problems before they become major issues.

 

Winter Lawn Overseeding

A different type of grass grows in the winter in Arizona than the species that thrive in the summer. Changes in the temperature can cause summer grass to turn dry and brown during the winter. The solution to this issue is overseeding.

Overseeding is the process of planting new grass seed over existing grass. The process is slightly different depending upon which type of grass you have in your yard during the summer. In Arizona, one of the most popular grasses is Bermuda grass. You can overseed a Bermuda yard with Perennial Ryegrass to keep your lawn vibrantly green even when the temperature drops.

If you have a shaded lawn, you should overseed it with Fescue. You should never overseed St. Augustine grass because it could kill your lawn, but if you have any other type of grass in your yard, overseeding can help you keep your lawn healthy and green year-round. 

 

Watch for Freeze Warnings

Even in Arizona, the temperature occasionally dips below freezing at night. It’s important to watch out for these freeze warnings because you will need to take steps to protect the plants in your yard. You may have heard that plastic is a good covering, but this is not true. Never use plastic because it collects moisture and can cause a lot of damage to your plants. It is a much better idea to use burlap or cotton sheets to protect your plants from frost without retaining moisture.

 

Perform Basic Landscaping Maintenance

You may think that you only need to take care of your lawn during the summer, but the winter is actually the perfect time to perform a few maintenance tasks that you may not have time to do during warmer weather. Your lawn may not grow quickly during cold weather, but it is a good idea to keep it trimmed up as necessary. Not only does this help your home maintain its aesthetic value, but it also keeps you from needing extensive care during the spring. You should also make it a habit to clean up any messes and remove any debris from your yard. 

 

Desert Landscape

You may not have extensive lawn care needs during the winter if you live in a desert landscape, but it is still important to stay on top of small tasks as they arise. With the proper care and attention during the winter, your lawn can stay vibrantly green and healthy all year.

 

Trust Mesquite Landscaping for Your Landscaping Needs

If you live in Chandler, Mesa, Gilbert, or Queen Creek, Arizona, Mesquite Landscaping is here to help you anytime you are looking for landscaping services. Contact us online or call (480) 238-2943 to schedule a free consultation if you need professional landscaping done to your home!

 

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