Royal Creations Blog

Winter Lawn and Garden Myths Debunked 

Over the years, Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping has heard a lot of myths about caring for your lawn and garden.  Here are our top myths and what plants really need to survive the winter and early spring. 

Myth: Plants don't need water in winter. 

While plants are dormant in the winter, that doesn’t mean they don’t need water.  Water allows plants to regulate their temperature as well as transport nutrients.  Dormancy slows down a plant’s metabolism, but they can’t go without a drink all winter any more than we can.  For more information, check out our article on winter watering.   

Myth: Plants don’t need food in the winter. 

By the same token, being dormant means you do not fertilize in the winter.  However, a fall fertilization provides your plants with food through the winter and into early spring.  Without that food, plants have a hard time coming out of dormancy and greening up in the spring.  We fertilize in the fall for our garden care clients when we clean out and refresh their landscape beds. 

Myth: Winter sun is not harmful to plants. 

Sunscald can happen in the winter to young trees or older trees with thin bark.  Most of these do not have leaves in the winter to protect the bark.  Wrap young trees with tree wrap from the bottom of the trunk to the first branches to protect them from the sun. 

Myth: Pruning should wait until spring. 

Pruning to remove growth should be done in late winter or early spring.  However, pruning to remove dead or diseased branches should be done when they are found.  Avoid pruning away freeze damage until spring because another freeze can cause more damage to the newly pruned branch. 

Myth: Mulching is only for summer. 

We recommend a three-inch layer of mulch in the spring, with another inch put down in the fall.  The mulch protects plant roots from temperature fluctuations and helps prevent the soil from heaving or drying out. 

Myth: Plants don't need protection from winter winds. 

Winter winds can whip across evergreen needles and dry them out, leading to winter burn.  Treating evergreens with Wilt-Pruf in the fall can protect them from losing the moisture they need to avoid winter burn. 

In addition, young plants can be damaged by harsh winds.  Windbreaks that allow the sun in but not the wind can protect them from having branches broken off. 

Myth: All pests are dormant in winter. 

Pests frequently overwinter in dead plants or under the bark of trees.  Cleaning landscape beds of plant debris can destroy these pests, so they do not attack your plants in the spring.  Other debris, such as dead branches, cardboard, or lumber, can also shield pests, so keep your landscape neat. 

Sign up For Garden Care Program 

Now is a good time to sign up for Royal Creation Architectural Landscaping’s Garden Care Program.  We will come out in the spring, clean the beds, and cut back perennials and prune out dead wood.   The blue crew will also fertilize, apply pre-emergent, and apply a layer of dark mulch to make your property pop and help get the plants started off right for the growing season.  If you are interested in signing up, please call our office at 816-825-2524 or schedule a consultation.