winter landscaping
Growing Winter Plants and Vegetables
November 8, 2022A Guide to Growing in the Mid-Atlantic Region
The growing season isn’t over. Late fall is an often overlooked but easy gardening season. You don’t need to water or turn the soil over as often, and the plants provide much needed color as the trees lose their leaves.
Some of the best plants for soups and harvest salads can be planted right now. This is the ideal time to plan garlic, a main ingredient in many meals. Root crops do well in colder weather and continue growing beneath the soil even in the snow.
Make sure to check any plants you purchase to see if they thrive in our region’s climate. In our area of the Brandywine Valley, the USDA rates the area as a 7A and 7B. This means we experience seasonal variations. We might have periods of warm weather in the winter and experience cold winds in early spring.
The hardiest winter plants are kale, spinach and collards. Root crops that flourish in the colder weather include radishes, turnips, kohlrabi and leeks. Planted in the fall, asparagus will appear after a year or two in the spring. Broccoli can be planted up to 10 weeks before a frost and will last through the winter.
If you’re looking to plant flowers, the following hardy plants make a vibrant winter garden: crocus, camellia, winterberry, ornamental cabbage, daphne and hellebore. These winter flowers will thrive in the cold and offer gorgeous displays all winter long.
Be sure to plant all winter plants and vegetables at least six weeks before the first frost to ensure they have time to establish a root system. It never hurts to protect new plants with burlap coverings for the first few weeks as well.
How to Keep Your Lawn Healthy This Winter
October 20, 2022As the cold season approaches, the steps you take now to protect your landscaping can make a huge impact on the health and future growth of your lawn. Winter prepping your property is the most efficient and effective way to safeguard your time and investment.
The following tips will keep you from having to replace or repair your home in the spring:
Aerate Soil
Take advantage of the number of leaves falling this time of year to create a ground cover for your plants and trees. Shredded leaves make an ideal protection from ice and snow. They also work to protect the root structure and retain moisture in soil.
Trim Dead Limbs
Broken branches expend unnecessary energy for trees and shrubs, taking up precious water and minerals. Trim dead leaves, flowers and other areas of the plant that don’t look healthy. Keep in mind that brown leaves don’t mean the tree is dead. Some trees, such as evergreens and magnolias, turn brown and then green again. The stems should be pliable and firm, with a green cast.
Cover Exposed Plants
Harsh winter winds can cause major damage to vulnerable plants. Protect them with burlap netting to shield them from ice, snow and heavy winds. A cover will also offer extra support to the branches, helping prevent severe breakage.
Remove Unnecessary Clutter
Fall is the perfect time of year to do an evaluation of your home. Have your children outgrown that playset? Do you really need three fire pits? Does your outdoor furniture need an update? Remove the extra clutter or unnecessary yard ornaments now. If you don’t want to sell them, you can donate them to organizations such as Green Drop or the Salvation Army, which offer free pickup.
Get an Expert Evaluation
A professional landscaping firm, like DiSabatino Landscaping, can offer ideas for ways to upgrade your property. Give them a call before their busy spring season to get an expert opinion on areas you may have overlooked. You’ll have time to review and suggestions and decide which services you’d like to consider to make your home a haven all year round.
Tips to Get Your Home Ready for Winter
October 4, 2022Fall is one of the busiest times of the year, full of hayrides and pumpkin picking, Halloween parties and football games. The fall season also means winter is right around the corner.
To prevent future headaches or costly repairs, take care of your home and yard now. A few hours spent winterizing your property is well worth the effort.
The following tips will help streamline the process:
Cover Furniture and Outdoor Equipment
Outdoor furniture can get damaged by excessive snow and rain. Table and chair coverings protect your investment from fading or tearing. You should also cover your outdoor grill or firepit when not in use.
Trim Dead Plants and Tree Branches
Winter storms can cause dead branches to crack and break, wreaking damage on your home or your neighbor’s yard. They can also be a major liability. Walk your property and inspect any dead limbs or plants. Many townships have yard cleanup days in the fall where you can have your yard waste removed at the curb without any cost to you.
Get Your Fireplace Checked
Right now is the ideal time to have your fireplace professionally cleaned. A wood burning fireplace needs to be serviced once a year, and fall is ideal since it will be doing the most work during the cold winter months. Make sure the chimney and cap are in working condition and install a heat proof glass door if you haven’t already.
Turn Off the Water
Exterior hoses and faucets should be turned off in the winter to prevent freezing water pipes. Make sure all hoses are drained of water before turning off the supply and storing them for the winter months.
Check Window Seals
Prevent costly winter drafts and save on heating costs by reinforcing window seals with caulk. Check the window seals for any leaks – the biggest indicator is fog on the glass – and have them resealed. If they still leak air, it may be time to replace them.
Clear Your Gutters
Wait until the majority of the leaves have fallen from your trees before clearing your gutters, or you’ll need to do them twice. Removing dead leaves keeps them from freezing and clogging your gutters in the winter months. You should also clear your gutters in the beginning of spring.
Brighten Your Landscape with Winter Interest Plants
January 23, 2020Winter landscapes tend to be drab and dreary in the northeast this time of year without winter interest plants. With Christmas lights packed away, lawns and deciduous trees dormant, a brown deadness seems to dominate the landscape. This can cause an obvious effect on mood.
There is no reason to fall prey to this deadness in your landscaping plans. Many horticulturists plant winter interest plants to add flare and brighten their landscapes during the winter months. Not only does this brighten one’s mood, it offers food sources for local wildlife, which in turn adds color and movement to the landscape.
SHRUBS WITH WINTER INTEREST
Your yard can come alive with the sound of chirping, warbling and singing birds happily consuming a yard full of strategically planted winter-persistent berries. For some inspiration, check out this article by the National Wildlife Federation on ‘WINTER BERRIES FOR BIRDS’.
A variety of bright-berried shrubs and perennials with textured foliage that are at their peak in winter will add color and texture to any winter landscape. Brightly colored stems, fragrant blooms and enticing fruits bring a wealth of interest to winter borders.
Evergreen shrubs and trees add a pleasing backdrop to colorful winter plantings, such as winterberry or deciduous holly that boasts bright red berries that sparkle and draws the eye.
Pyracantha angustifolia or Firethorn often used as a hedge, on a wall or trellis adorns your landscape with orange-red berries and greenish-brown leaves.
The colorful glow of Cornus sanguinea, or red twig dogwood stems backlit by a low winter sun is a beauty to behold. Evergreen ferns also add color and texture during the winter months. The Athyrium species, better known as the Japanese painted fern, is an excellent choice for any winter display.
Edgeworthia, aka paperbrush, offers fragrant flower buds of yellow and white clusters from December to April, silhouetted by decorative bark, as it drops its leaves mid-December. Witch Hazel blooms with yellow to red flowers sporting threadlike petals that curl up at night and open during the day to emit a lovely fragrance. These blooms last from late fall to early spring.
Winter Daphne is a variegated leaved evergreen shrub that has sweet fragrant white or pinkish star-shaped blooms in late winter to early spring. The Winter Flowering Cherry or Prunus Subhirtella Autumnalis Rosea is an excellent choice for creating a colorful winter hedge or stand-alone tree. Its star shaped, semi-double blooms in pale pink last from autumn to early spring.
While these are just a few really good choices to brighten your winter landscape, getting a professional landscaper’s opinion as to what type of winter interest plant is suitable for your particular needs is advisable. Every plant has its own particular needs and flourishes best in certain locations and soil conditions. An experienced landscaper can help guide you to get more bang for your landscaping investment.
Contact DiSabatino Landscaping if you would like to consult with one of our specialists.
Watch Our How to Winterize Your Pond Video
January 9, 2020Winterizing your pond begins in the fall, as water temperature is a big factor in determining when is the right time to begin the winterization process for ponds and other water features.
Tips to Winterize Ponds
DiSabatino Landscaping of Delaware helps homeowners to properly take care of their hardscaping and landscaping investment. That is why we suggest that you complete the following steps to prepare ponds and other water features for the winter months ahead.
How to Winterize Living Ponds & Other Water Features:
- Debris Control: Clean out all debris, leaves and silt from the bottom of your pond. The cleaner you can get the pond before freezing weather comes, the healthier your pond will be throughout the winter. Ponds need to be covered with netting in the fall. This netting should be well above the surface so leaves can be easily cleaned. Use a fine-weave aquarium net to sift out excess sludge and debris.
- Water Change: A water change can be done anytime, but it is much more comfortable if it’s done before the water reaches 60◦ Remember to use dechlorinator if your water contains chlorine.
- De-Icer: Use a de-icer to keep a section of your pond open to allow oxygenation and gas exchange. This does not warm the overall water temperature of your pond. A de-icer simply allows toxic gasses to be released and oxygen to enter the pond.
- Pump Care: When temperatures drop below 40°F, the main pump should be removed and filters thoroughly cleaned. Do not leave the pump running on the bottom of the pond. It will lower the temperature of the entire pond by disrupting the natural thermal layers of the pond water as well as adding extreme stress on pond fish.
- Plant Care: Trim and remove any dying plant material as it appears to avoid debris build-up. In this area, bring inside all tropical plants and set all hardy water lilies to the bottom, if the pond is deep enough to keep them from freezing to the bottom.
- Fish Care: Depending on the water temperature will determine what food you feed you fish. Cooler temperatures make it harder for fish to digest food properly. Though it is important for fish to bulk up during the winter months, it is imperative that they not be overfed. As this is a complicated topic, here are more intricate instructions on fish care.
If you would like help with your landscaping needs, please get in touch
302-764-0408 | DiSabatinoInc.com
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Check Out Our Portfolio of Fireplaces & Fire Pits
DiSabatino Landscaping is Delaware’s #1 Hardscape and Landscape Specialist. We can help advise you what is best way to create outdoor fireplaces & fire pits Give us a call today! 302-764-0408
Landscape Maintenance Tips to Perform Before Winter
December 12, 2019Timing is everything in the landscaping business. Particular chores or lawn maintenance need done during certain times of the year for best results.
Things, such as properly timed applications will have your landscape reaping the benefits. Doing these maintenance tasks at the wrong time could be a waste of energy or worse. It could actually harm your landscape.
Since very few of us have that a green thumb, we thought sharing some helpful tips for fall maintenance might be in order. Preform these chores to have a vibrant landscape year round. Doing right thing at the right time will keep your lawn and garden looking its best.
5 Steps to Prepare Your Landscape for Spring
January 8, 2019Winter is just beginning, but it is never too early to think about your spring landscaping. Taking heed of a few simple tips this winter can help you make the most of the warmer spring temperatures when they come. Prepare for your spring landscaping by taking these steps.
1) Clean Your Yard Periodically
One of the first things you will have to do when beautifying your lawn for spring is to clean up the debris, such as leaves and twigs that accumulated over the winter. If you do not attend to your lawn until you begin the process in April, the task can seem daunting. On the other hand, taking advantage of periodic thaws in the wintertime can help you stay on track all season long and help with the cabin fever we all begin to feel over the winter months.
For the more manicured preference, clearing of debris is the first step to the cleanup in preparation for mulching. If of the more naturalistic mindset, leaves and debris can be collected and composted or even further broken down and recycled as mulch.
2) Choose Your Mulches Now
It may not be time to lay mulch and other landscaping materials, but you can lay the groundwork. Edge out your beds, trim back any dead branches, and begin to research what kind of mulch you might want to lay in the spring. Hardwood mulches have become the norm for many homeowners due to color and longevity. Homeowners may want to consider natural mulching options such as bark and leaf mulch. Many public and professional gardens utilize natural mulches as these options successfully break down and contribute to plant health and soil biodiversity.
THREE WAYS TO PREPARE YOUR PATIO FOR SPRING
3) Examine Trees After Every Storm
In order to keep your lawn in the best shape (as well as protect the structures around your house), look for signs of dead or hanging tree branches after every winter storm. You should remove dangling limbs immediately for safety’s sake, and to save time on spring cleanup.
THE BENEFITS OF PLANTING WINTER INTERESTS PLANTS
4) Apply Pre-Emergent Controls
Late winter or very early spring (think February/March) is actually the perfect time to get a jump start on weed control in both your lawns and your landscape beds. Crabgrass control should be applied to lawns and pre-emergent should be applied when mulching landscape beds. Pre-emergent should be in the ground once thawed but before temperatures reach 55 degrees. If you wait too long to apply your pre-emergent, seeds will begin to germinate and it will no longer be effective.
5) Design Your Landscape Projects
Springtime may seem like a long way off, but it’s mere months away. If you are planning for any landscape or outdoor living projects or renovations for the upcoming season, now is the time to contact your landscaping design team. Take the winter to plan and coordinate details so that when spring rolls around, you ready and can enjoy the results of your project throughout the rest of the season.
DiSabatino Landscaping is Delaware’s #1 Hardscape and Landscape Specialist. We can help build a outdoor fireplace or fire pit to keep you warm over the winter months ahead. Give us a call today! 302-764-0408
Winter Landscaping & Gardening Tips
December 11, 20182019 is almost here. It’s time to reflect on the year gone by, as well as plan for the one ahead. There are plenty of things we can do in the Winter to keep up progress in our outdoor spaces. Here are some ideas for your consideration.
Winter Landscaping & Gardening Tips:
1) Pruning: After deciduous trees and shrubs drop their leaves we can shape them easier. A couple of dry, mild days and some clean, sharp tools is all you need to tighten up shapes in your landscape.
Why Late Winter is the Best Time to Prune
2) Hardscape: Patios, walkways, and outdoor lighting can all be done well into the Winter with some careful consideration. A fire pit or other fire accents can add to family gatherings and holiday memories.
Preparing Your Patio for Winter
3) Planting: Winter is still a great time to add trees and bling like roses to your property. That way they’ll be ready right from the start for Spring 2019. Often times there are fantastic discounts on landscape material at this time of year.
4 Benefits of Planting ‘Winter Interest’ Plants
Most of all enjoy time with your family and the satisfaction of your hard garden work in 2018. Have a Happy New Year friends!
HOW TO WINTERIZE PONDS AND OTHER WATER FEATURES
Winter Gardening Tips – Sunday Gardener
“The advice to clear snow from shrubs is good, sound, practical advice. In earlier years I have ignored it, thinking this advice was over complicating things when you could just stay indoors in the warm, but snow really does cause damages to the garden, especially shrubs.”
DiSabatino Landscaping is Delaware’s #1 Hardscape and Landscape Specialist. We can help get your landscape ready to face the winter months ahead. Give us a call today! 302-764-0408
Using Anti-Desiccants To Protect Broadleaf Evergreens During Winter Months
November 6, 2018The colors of fall are all around us this year and thanks to the continuous rainfall our area has received these last few months, the contrast is AMAZING! Now that Halloween is a distant memory and Thanksgiving is quickly approaching, it is time to talk about preparing your landscaping for the cold winter months ahead.
Winter can be harsh on trees and shrubs that do not drop their leaves, such as broadleaf evergreens and conifers. These varieties of landscape plantings often suffer winter damage through desiccation. Desiccation in layman’s terms means drying out.
Broadleaf evergreens, such as azalea, rhododendron, holly and boxwood, in addition to Conifers, such as arborvitae, juniper, pine, cedar and cypress are the most susceptible to desiccation. So are tender stems, such as rose canes and hydrangea stems.
As the ground starts to freeze, a plant’s roots effort to take up water from the ground are thwarted. The plant will begin to use up all the water stored in their leaves and stems and they begin to dry out. That is why landscaping professionals suggest strategic application of anti-desiccants.
Anti-desiccants are sprays that provide a protective coating to evergreen foliage that reduces the amount of water that escapes from evergreen trees and shrubs to help hold in moisture through the winter. However, if applied too early in the season, anti-desiccants can cause injury.
As temperatures begin to drop in the fall, a plant prepares for dormancy by sending water from its foliage to its roots. Anti-desiccants applied before a plant goes dormant will trap water in the leaves which will freeze and cause cellular rupturing.
That is why it is important to pick an appropriate time to spray. Most landscapers suggest waiting until December and picking a day when temperatures are between 40-50 degrees F with no immediate rainfall in the forecast. The plant’s foliage needs to be dry before application and given enough time to dry after spraying with the anti-desiccant.
In addition, be sure to spray the plants thoroughly, even the underside of the foliage. Just to reiterate the most common types of landscape plants that should be treated are broadleaf evergreens, conifers and tender stems, such as hydrangea.
Landscaping trees and shrubbery is a big investment. Properly maintaining and protecting your plants can ensure that they look healthy and green for the next growing season. If you have problems with cold damage in your garden, you may want to try anti-desiccants this winter.
To learn more about protecting your landscape this winter, check out these articles:
HOW TO PROTECT TREES & SHRUBS FROM WINTER DAMAGE
WHY LATE WINTER IS THE BEST TIME TO PRUNE
IS YOUR LANDSCAPE READY FOR WINTER?
PROTECT YOUR TREES AND SHRUBS THIS WINTER
4 BENEFITS OF PLANTING WINTER INTEREST PLANTS
DiSabatino Landscaping is Delaware’s #1 Hardscape and Landscape Specialist. We can help get your landscape ready to face the winter months ahead. Give us a call today! 302-764-0408
How to Handle the Challenges to Your Landscape for Record Cold Winter
February 20, 2018
2018 has started off as a blustery cold winter and our friend Phil the groundhog gave us some more bad news when he saw his shadow, declaring six more weeks of winter. Whether you believe in Phil’s skills or not, one thing is for sure: this record cold winter has had a major impact on our area.
How has this affected homeowners?
This year, we heard from many of our clients that their pipes have burst for the first time ever in more than 50 years of living in their homes. Sustained wind chills at below zero temperatures have kept a lot of plumbers busy.
Because temperatures were so low and were accompanied by snow, there were higher than average amounts of rock salt being used. In some cases, it was ineffective because it was so cold.
This is an issue because the salt can be dangerous to driveways, walkways, garages and plants that are in close proximity to the street. Even though our clients may be diligent in using safe concrete and paved surface products, tires and wheel wells can pick up significant amounts of rock salt and brine. The residuals can drop onto the driveway or get tracked into patios and walkways. When the snow melts, the salt gets into soil, seriously hurting plants and trees.
Evergreen plants such as boxwoods, cherry laurels, rhododendrons and others get serious winter burn and browning, causing concerned homeowners. Luckily, in most instances the new growth will emerge in the spring.
In addition, our company’s work schedule has been impacted by weather delays and low temperatures that cause unsafe word conditions. This has resulted in a larger than usual backlog for the spring. Even with this cold weather, a lot of our clients have been planning their outdoor living spaces, pools and landscapes to be ready when the warm temperatures arrive. If you are planning a project this spring, we recommend contacting one of our team members for a consultation to get started soon.
This year is starting off as one of our busiest in over a decade. We are committed to taking care of our clients and continuing our tradition of excellence in customer service and quality installs, but we need your help this year to have us out early enough to take care of your landscape, outdoor living space or pool.
And when spring does come, we’ll all be grateful to hear birds chirping, see plants budding and entertain friends and family outdoors!
DiSabatino Landscaping is Delaware’s #1 Hardscape and Landscape Specialist. We can design an outdoor living environment that will add quality to your life and value to your home. Give us a call today! 302-764-0480
4 Steps to Optimal Plant Health for Your Landscaping
February 6, 2018
Why Plant Culture and Environment is Important for Plant Health
A healthy plant, planted correctly in the right location, is more likely to remain healthy and less susceptible to attack by disease or insects.
Healthy gardens and landscapes start not only with healthy plants but also with healthy soil and environments. Quality soil and mulch, with proper watering regimes for new (and sometimes established) plants play important parts of keeping plants healthy and thriving. Good management of the landscape is essential, especially in the soil and root systems of plants. Maintenance, plus fertilizing, pruning and making other adjustment as conditions change, is also essential.
Check out our ‘Plant Health Care Programs and/or Preservation’ suggestions to get your plants lush and healthy.
4 Steps to Optimal Plant Health for Your Landscaping:
1) Soil Testing: determines proper mode of action.
2 )Fertilizing Program: Spring – macro-element based (N-P-K); Summer – granular application for mid-season improvements; Fall – micro-element based (iron, calcium, sulfur and mycorrhizae/humates).
3) Air Spading for root systems (if necessary): De-compacts soil, root collar excavations, girdling root removals and Amendments (compost/organic matter) may be added for additional soil improvement.
4)Pest Management Applications: This should be for plants that still exhibit insect problems or trees that are susceptible to damaging invasive pests/disease. Many applications require more than one for the treatment to be effective. A goal should be to use a minimal risk treatment (cultural practices, oils, soaps, beneficial insects) before applying conventional insecticides/fungicides. However, in many instances, a zero or minimal-tolerance for pests and disease, would be considered grounds for treatment; this means, depending on the extent or severity of the infestation/or disease, that immediate action should be taken to remedy a solution.
DiSabatino Landscaping is Delaware’s #1 Hardscape and Landscape Specialist. We can design an outdoor living environment that will add quality to your life and value to your home. Give us a call today! 302-764-0480
4 Benefits of Planting ‘Winter Interest’ Plants
January 17, 2018The winter weather tends to bring a boring, cold landscape that further makes us want spring to come as soon as possible. All the plants in a landscape are frozen in time or cut back to the ground, awaiting the weather to break and bring us their colorful interest for yet another season.
This winter, as you stay warm in your home, consider spots outside that could benefit from a little color added to an otherwise bland landscape. Winter interest plants may not warm you up, but they are sure to bring some color and lifeduring the boring winter days.
4 Benefits of Planting ‘Winter Interest’ Plants This Season:
 1) COLOR – Color that is otherwise not around until the weather breaks in April. Try color twig dogwood or Switchgrasses (Panicum sp.) as winter accent plants. |
 2) BIRDS –Winterberry shrubs and Hawthorne trees have colorful berries that attract an array of birds. |
 3) FLOWERS – Early flowering Witch-hazel and perennial Hellebore give a surprise of flower color during winter months. |
 4) SHELTER – Grasses that are not cut back are a habitat for wildlife, including some beneficial pollinators that overwinter in stems of grass plants and perennials. |
There is no added landscape maintenance for winter interest plants. ‘Winter Interest’ plants are utilized in many ways to improve the winter view until our flowers and warm weather return in the spring!
DiSabatino Landscaping is Delaware’s #1 Hardscape and Landscape Specialist. We can design an outdoor living environment that will add quality to your life and value to your home. Give us a call today! 302-764-0480
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