An Essential Winter Guide To Garden And Landscape Care

During the colder months, you’ll often find that maintaining your gardens and landscapes can prove to be a nightmarish task. From icy roads to frozen gardens, extreme weather can wreak havoc on our outdoor environments.

This extensive guide will help you maintain your lawns, protect your trees, and advise you on where to find grounds maintenance experts to prepare your landscape for winter conditions.

Why you’ll want to carry out maintenance over winter

While it may seem like an odd time to work on your grounds or gardens, carrying out landscaping and other maintenance on your land this winter is a smart investment.

Whether you’re interested in merely protecting your plants from the harsher weather or seeking to carry out some larger garden rejuvenation projects, here’s why you should consider giving your land some additional TLC this season:

Benefits of landscaping over winter



●     Your garden will be disrupted when you least want to use it - while your land might occasionally be out of bounds and it’s possible there’ll be noisy machinery, you’re less likely to be out and about during the colder seasons. Similarly, your neighbours will also be inside more and so will be less affected - an additional plus.

●     Many trees and plants are dormant, and therefore less likely to be impacted by landscaping work.

●     There’s less wildlife to disturb - many animals are in hibernation and there are also fewer birds.

●     Due to the lack of daylight, you’ll be able to test out garden lighting within working hours.

●     Any leaks and drainage problems will be immediately obvious and can be fixed in the early stages.

What you can do to look after your garden and grounds during the colder months

While there are difficulties associated with caring for your grounds and garden during winter, there are still ways you can make the most of it.

Here are several steps you can take to ensure your garden and grounds stay in their best condition all year round.

Prepare your lawn

Lawn maintenance over winter is integral to preserving its long-term health and manageability.

Here are some ways to prepare your lawn for a gentle winter hibernation and ensure a healthy regeneration in the coming spring:

●     Rake leaves and remove debris - not only does this make gardens appear tidier but also helps the lawn by opening up pores for the root system below and allowing it to breathe.

●     Cut grass shorter - continuing to mow the lawn over winter discourages pests from settling in and also gives it some additional room to breathe.

●     Deploy fertiliser before the first freeze - as the weather starts to warm, it will absorb the nutrients.

●     Make sure people keep off the grass - at a time when it’s particularly vulnerable, you’ll want to minimise any wear-and-tear it might sustain.

Protect your trees and shrubs

Cold, wet and windy weather can cause significant damage to trees, shrubs and other garden structures.

Several winter weather conditions can affect your landscape:

●     Low temperatures can cause plants to freeze over and prevent them from absorbing water.

●     Snow accumulation in large amounts can cause significant damage to trees - the weight of it can cause branches to snap and break and it can also smother shrubs.

●     Strong wind can damage and uproot trees and shrubs.

There are several steps you can take to reduce potential harm:

●     Apply mulch to trees, plants and shrubs for added protection. This helps prevent soil erosion, retain moisture and additionally creates consistent soil temperature around the roots.

●     Prune your plants in late winter. This leaves fresh wounds exposed for a short time only before new growth begins in spring.

●     Protect against water loss from plant leaves by applying anti-transpirants to plants and trees.

●     Store plants properly - keep containers in dry, sheltered areas, grouped together for mutual protection and prevent roots from freezing in containers by wrapping them with bubble polythene or straw.

●     Take precautions against snow and ice by tying branches together that may be susceptible to snow loads. Never shake tree limbs or branches to remove snow, as it can cause them to break - instead, gently brush it off.

Winter is also a prime time of the year to conduct tree surgery. All landowners have a ‘duty of care’ to maintain trees and keep them in a safe condition. From tree felling to stump removal, GMCB offers comprehensive tree surgery services throughout Central Scotland. Having identified any potential problems that your trees may have, our NPTC-certified tree surgeons can provide competitively priced surgery to ensure the proper maintenance of trees at your business premises.

Contact a snow clearance provider

While many of us rejoice at the prospect of a white Christmas, snow can also cause a plethora of problems to plague your grounds and lawns. Excessive snow can cause ice to form, increasing the risk of slips, falls and other accidents. This could be particularly concerning if you own a business - you could face legal action if someone injures themselves on your property due to a lack of snow removal. Large snow piles can also block access routes, making it hard to gain entry to your home or business. And finally, snow can cause significant damage to your grass, trees and shrubs by rendering them more fragile.

Avoid this unnecessary hassle by contacting a snow clearance provider. GMCB Ltd provides high-quality snow clearance services that ensure your business can run smoothly with minimal disruptions. Whether you require a comprehensive cover or a one-off service, we’re on hand to help this winter.

Maintain control of dense vegetation and weeds

During the colder months, it’s easy to allow vegetation and weeds to grow out of control. As a preventative measure ahead of full growth in early spring, it’s best to avoid this. Often, you’ll need professional assistance to keep this manageable. GMCB offers comprehensive land clearance services to help tackle unruly vegetation. Whether you’re seeking extensive vegetation management & removal or need help with gorse clearance, we’re on hand to meet your needs.

We also provide commercial weed services to get rid of the most stubborn of weeds, from Giant Hogweed to Japanese Knotweed. Our loyal customers can rely on our extensive track record of delivering effective weed-killing solutions that only target unwanted pests and protect the rest of your garden.

Don’t neglect gritting

From causing minor injuries to pedestrians who slip on a frozen path to the causation of fatal car accidents, we’re all familiar with the dangers of icy roads. Gritting can help prevent the severity of this. By preventing ice from forming and melting existing ice, it is an effective safety measure to counter the risks of slippery roads. It’s also an important economic measure - your business will prosper if it is accessible and free from unnecessary hazards.

At GMCB Ltd, we’re committed to keeping your roads, businesses and premises clear throughout the winter. Our reliable gritting contractors are available to provide both scheduled and emergency solutions upon request across Edinburgh. With affordable prices and preventive gritting procedures, you can rest assured that you can prepare your property for icy weather this winter.

Keep your surfaces clean

Undergoing basic maintenance work will help make your premises ready for use in the warmer months. Therefore, it’s important to ensure your patios and walls don’t build up with mould, grime, dust and mud this winter. Commercial pressure washing may come in handy here. GMCB employs state-of-the-art equipment to deliver fantastic results at a highly competitive price.

Seek expert advice from a grounds maintenance company

In some cases, you’re going to require expert assistance when dealing with caring for your landscape over winter. For tackling large projects or dealing with a particularly tricky area, it’s a good idea to consult with a professional grounds maintenance company. GMCB Ltd is a family-run business that specialises in grounds maintenance expertise. Our team has over 15 years of experience in weed killing, tree surgery and general grounds maintenance. From winter gritting and snow clearance to commercial grounds maintenance and weed-killing services, we cover several locations throughout Central Scotland and offer our efficient operations all year round. So, if you’re in need of some additional help taking care of your garden or grounds this winter, contact us now for a free quote.