Winter Lawn Care with Your STIHL Equipment
If there’s one company you can count on to help you manage your yard this winter, it’s STIHL. They’ve been supplying top of the line products to a wide range of yard workers, from private citizens who simply want to keep their home looking fresh and clean to professionals who need their landscaping equipment to go the extra mile. This is just as true in the winter as it is during the warm months. Take a moment to read through our tips on lawn care for the winter and then stop by Scott’s Power Equipment to upgrade your set of tools with some great STIHL products. We have several locations in Bridgeton, Arnold, Wentzville, and East St. Louis, Missouri, serving the greater St. Louis area.
Take Advantage of Good Weather
Our very first tip is to keep your eye on the weather forecast. Not every day is going to feature torrential rains or seven feet of snow. You’ll have nice, dry days that’ll be perfect for touching up your yard, so plan accordingly. You can also plan to check your STIHL tools before the nice weather hits so you’re not derailed by broken gear.
Aeration
Keeping an eye on the weather can also alert you to frosty days. If the frost settles on the ground, the top layer is going to create a seal that’ll prevent fresh air from reaching the soil beneath the surface. Before the frost hits, take some time to aerate your lawn so the soil is fresh and ready to go when the weather gets warmer. Click here for more tips on lawn aeration.
Monitor Traffic
Of course, your lawn can tolerate some traffic, so you don’t have to stay off it altogether. However, if you’re walking over the same spot every day, you can start to do some real damage to the grass, even if it’s under a layer of snow or ice. Try to avoid walking too much over one particular area so the grass will grow more freely in the spring.
Watch for Deep Freezes
Your lawn isn’t necessarily susceptible to extreme temperatures, but there comes a point when freezing temperatures might be a little too much for your yard. If you see a deep freeze coming, consider chipping away at any ice that has collected in some of the lower points of your yard.
Remove Debris
Whether you are dealing with the last, hardy leaves of the season, fallen twigs or anything else, it’s important to get rid of debris before the snow starts to fall. Then, when the snow melts, clear your yard again before the next snowfall. The idea is that layers of debris can create an additional barrier under any snow and ice that can smother and suffocate your lawn. Clear them away when you have the chance using STIHL blowers and vacuums.
Use Melting Agents with Caution
Most melting agents, even if you’re just using salt, can damage plants and soil. Make sure you’re making smart choices about where you use these products and how often.
Prune During the Winter
Now’s the perfect time to prune some of your plants. It’ll probably be a little easier now that the vegetation isn’t blocking some of your view, and it’ll help get your plants ready for spring growth. Because of this, you’ll definitely want to make sure this happens by late winter and there’s lots of great STIHL pruning equipment available for this.
Prepare for Snow and Ice
Take a look at some of the plants and trees in your yard when there’s snow and ice on the horizon. You’ll want to tie branches together if they might be susceptible to snow loads and remove branches that might be prone to damage. Damaged plants are more susceptible to disease.
When the snow piles on, brush powder off of susceptible branches when the weather lets up. The younger trees will probably need protective wire mesh, as they’ll be an easy target for wildlife in search of food.
Even these little steps can help keep your yard healthy and ready for spring. Now’s also a great time to upgrade your tools with some new STIHL equipment. Stop by Scott’s Power Equipment in Bridgeton, Arnold, Wentzville, and East St. Louis, Missouri and we’ll show you what we have available right now. We welcome all patrons from all over St. Louis.