Preparing Your Property for a Brutal PA Winter

As the vibrant autumn leaves finally drop in the Lehigh Valley, the focus shifts from enjoying the outdoors to preparing for the inevitable snow and ice.

A sloppy fall cleanup leaves a property vulnerable. Debris left over the winter invites disease, pests, and long-term damage that costs dearly in the spring.

Here is how Sombra's Landscaping winterizes properties to ensure they bounce back strong the following year.

Leaf Removal: More Than Aesthetics

A few leftover leaves on the lawn may seem harmless, but they are not. When leaves are covered by snow, they form a dense, wet mat that blocks out sunlight and traps moisture against the soil.

This is the perfect breeding ground for snow mold, a fungal disease that leaves massive dead patches across turf in the spring. Every single leaf must be removed from the lawn. Commercial vacuums and blowers ensure the turf is completely clear before the first snowfall.

Putting the Beds to Sleep

Fall is the time for a hard pruning. Hostas, daylilies, and other herbaceous perennials are cut to the ground. This prevents them from turning to mush over the winter and harboring pests.

However, certain native plants and ornamental grasses are purposefully left standing. Their seed heads provide vital food for local birds during the winter, and they offer beautiful visual interest when dusted with snow. These are cut back during the spring cleanup instead.

Final Fertilization (The Winterizer)

The last fertilizer application of the year is arguably the most important. A high-potassium "winterizer" blend encourages root growth and carbohydrate storage rather than top growth. This acts as an energy reserve, allowing the grass to survive the freezing temperatures and emerge vigorously green as soon as the soil warms in April.

A meticulous fall cleanup is the best insurance policy for a beautiful spring landscape.