Before winter weather gets harsh is the time to ensure hardscapes, exterior structures and backyard elements can stand up to the onslaught of ice, snow and freezing temps. Jon Kontz, CEO of PLANT Design Group, says with good preparation, homeowners can both protect hardscape investments and be sure outdoor spaces emerge unscathed in the spring. He also addresses how to prepare plants. Following are Jon's beneficial tips regarding key factors:
Prep Outdoor Furniture
If outdoor furniture won't be used over the winter, it should be stored neatly where it’s protected from elements. This both reduces wear and tear and makes snow removal easier. While storing everything indoors is preferred, at a minimum, use heavy-duty, waterproof furniture covers.
Prep Outdoor Kitchens
If not using outdoor kitchens during wintry months, Jon recommends making sure all appliances are well covered, and any drawers, storage areas or cabinets are securely closed. "Store anything delicate inside or in an outdoor shed. Shut off gas lines if applicable," he adds.
Inspect Outdoor Lighting
Even if homeowners won’t be using yards as much during the winter months, Jon suggests making sure all lighting is working and that lightbulbs are good. He says, "Pay special attention to ensure that walkway lighting is functional for safe travels around the property. Take visual stock and note the location of any non-functional bulbs and replace them with the recommended ones per lighting manufacturer specifications. It’s always a smart idea to keep some spares handy for the various bulb types your space requires."
Stock Up On Surface-Safe Deicer
One thing to avoid is causing any damage to hardscaping. Jon says certain deicing compounds, such as rock salt, can damage stone and pavers. He recommends using a salt-free alternative deicer, such as calcium chloride. "Or, you can use a gritty material like sand. While sand won’t remove ice, it’s surface safe and will make your space more traversable," he says.
Get plenty of the right deicer so only one trip needs to be made before the winter season is in full swing, he adds. "It’s far better to be left with a few unused bags in the spring than having to race to the store when a big winter storm is forecasted to compete for what’s left on store shelves."
No Metal Shovels
Ditch metal shovels, asserts Jon. "They can destroy hardscapes, and mark up natural stone and pavers alike. There are plastics capable of handling the toughest of snow. It can be hard to identify sidewalk borders when snow falls, so get some ‘sidewalk and driveway’ markers, which are available at most home improvement and hardware stores."
Check Exterior Structure Rain Gutters
Visually inspect gutters and egresses to ensure they're free of fall leaves or other debris. Also, if water isn't draining properly, Jon says to clear blockage in patio and lawn drains or get in touch with an installer or builder who can verify they’re working properly.
Choose Wintering Steps For Indoor Plants
One option is to store plants indoors in a basement or dry garage (low light) environments. This option works well for bulbs, cyclamen and most tropicals. Jon says the temperature should stay between 45-60 degrees. "Dry plants out, then mist with water once per week. Soil should not be too dry or too wet. Store plants in paper or an organic breathable fabric, not plastic."
Jon says to be sure plants are clean, pest free and not root bound, except for plants that love to be root bound, such as snake plant, peace lily, spider plant, jade plant, hoya, aloe vera, Boston ferns, philodendron, succulents, Bird of Paradise and banana plants.
Conversely, to induce dormancy until 'waking them up' with moisture and warmth, Jon suggests being careful bringing them back into the light because new growth can be damaged by sudden change in light and temperature.
To keep plants flourishing through winter, he says to clean plants with soap and water before they come in for cold months. He says such plants should be basically under-watered, but given as much light as possible and kept pest-free. "If you're concerned about pests in soil, you can drench soil with 1 cap rubbing alcohol and 1 cap dish-soap in 1 gallon of water," he adds.
To identify pests on indoor plants, he recommends looking for dirty or discolored leaves; black mold on leaves; fungus; white spots under leaves or where leaves meet the stems; spiderwebs; visible bugs; or small, turtle-shaped spots that could be scale.
"Prevent fungus gnats by letting the top 1 inch of soil dry out between waterings," he states. "Prevent spider mites by keeping plants’ leaves clean. Prevent the ever-so-apocalyptic mealybug and scale by throwing away plants, pots and stakes that have been exposed to mealybugs."
Pests can be treated with insecticidal soap, or Jon has an organic mixture he likes rather than using surfactants. It's his Neem/Castile mixture (1 ounce Neem Oil and 1/2 ounce of Castile Soap per gallon of water). But he cautions to be advised that this mixture expires after 24 hours due to the photosensitivity of Neem Oil.
It's always a good idea to protect wood and fixtures around plants that are housed indoors. He says it's also safer to wear eye and respiratory protection when treating for plant pests. "Don't spray in bright sunlight and be sure to wash off the mixture after spraying and letting it sit on plants that have sensitive leaves," he adds.
To water overwintering plants successfully, Jon says to have a saucer under plants that's at least 2 inches wider than the base of the pot. "It's best to know the makeup of your water, too. For well water, you may need to balance alkalinity with constant feed fertilizer for acid-loving plant types, which are most flowering plants and ferns. Regarding chlorinated water, it will need to sit for 24 hours before watering plants with it."
"Make sure there's a hole in your pots for drainage," Jon continues. "And not using a nozzle on watering can avoid dripping."
He says to put plants on a weekly watering schedule for the winter by picking a certain watering day of the week. Use a moisture meter probe, or finger, to test for dried out soil or moisture in the soil.
To wet soil of a dried out houseplant, the best method is to submerge the entire pot in a bucket of water for 15-30 minutes, allowing the soil to absorb water slowly from the bottom up; this is called bottom watering; alternatively, the pot can be placed in a shallow dish of water and let it soak until the soil is evenly moist, ensuring to drain excess water afterwards
To tell if plants need to be repotted, look for coloration of roots, as in white vs. brown. Repot into breathable pots, such as terra cotta or concrete.
The PLANT Design Group handles garden design/planting; grading, resloping; drainage; lawn installation; and vegetable gardens. They also create patios, walkways, fire pits, outdoor fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, outdoor entertainment areas, retaining walls, driveways and pool Installations. They construct decks, pergolas, pavilions, gazebos, fencing and arbors. Additionally, they provide outdoor lighting technology, waterfalls, ponds and outdoor furniture.
Jon Kontz, CEO of PLANT Design Group, says what sets apart their Design + Build company is their attention to clients’ lifestyle, preferences and budget in their design process.
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"Just Do It: Simply put, following these and other winter prep steps to maintain your hardscaping will save you time and money in the long run. Be proactive!"
"We specialize in exterior property design and outdoor living spaces including landscape, hardscape and exterior construction, serving clients in Bucks County, Montgomery County and Philadelphia." ~Jon Kontz, PLANT Design Group