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Winterizing Your Landscaping Investment – Indoor and Outdoor Plantings

Writer's picture: Barrow LandscapesBarrow Landscapes


As the temperatures drop and frost begins to settle in, it's time for Midwest gardeners to start preparing their plants for winter. Properly winterizing your indoor and outdoor plants ensures they survive the harsh conditions and come back strong when spring arrives. This guide will walk you through the steps to protect both your indoor and outdoor plants from the challenges of Midwest winters.


Winterizing Outdoor Plants

Outdoor plants in the Midwest need extra attention as they face freezing temperatures, snow, and wind. Here’s how to give them the protection they need.


Mulching and Insulating

One of the best ways to protect your outdoor plants is by applying a thick layer of mulch around their base. Mulch insulates the soil, helping to retain moisture and regulate temperature, which can prevent root damage. For perennials, shrubs, and trees, apply 2-4 inches of mulch, such as wood chips, straw, or leaves, to keep roots warm during the freeze.


Watering Before the Freeze

It’s important to thoroughly water your outdoor plants before the ground freezes. Plants need adequate hydration to survive the winter months, especially evergreens and shrubs. However, once freezing temperatures arrive, stop watering to avoid damaging the roots.


Covering Sensitive Plants

Tender perennials, such as roses and certain ornamental plants, may need extra protection. Covering them with burlap, frost blankets, or even old bedsheets can shield them from harsh winds and frost. For plants like roses, you can also mound soil around the base to provide additional insulation.


Pruning and Cutting Back

Cutting back perennials after their growing season ends helps reduce the risk of disease and pests during winter. Trim back dead or damaged branches from shrubs and trees to prevent breakage under heavy snow. However, avoid heavy pruning of trees, as it can stimulate new growth that won't have time to harden before winter.


Bring Potted Plants Indoors

If you have outdoor potted plants that aren't frost-hardy, it’s best to bring them indoors before the first frost. Clean the pots, check for pests, and place the plants in a sunny, cool location indoors to acclimate them to their new environment.


Winterizing Indoor Plants and the plants you bring inside for the winter


Indoor plants also require attention during the winter months as the reduced light and drier indoor air can affect their health.


Adjust Watering Schedule

Most indoor plants grow more slowly in winter, meaning they don’t need as much water. Overwatering can lead to root rot, especially when the soil doesn’t dry out as quickly. Let the top inch of soil dry out between waterings and reduce the frequency based on the plant's needs.


Increase Humidity

Indoor heating systems can cause the air to become very dry, which can stress your indoor plants. Consider placing a humidifier near your plants or using a humidity tray by filling a shallow dish with water and pebbles. Grouping plants together can also help create a more humid microclimate.


Maximize Light Exposure

With shorter daylight hours in winter, your plants may not get enough sunlight. Move them to sunnier spots in your home, like near south- or west-facing windows. If natural light is limited, consider using grow lights to provide supplemental lighting for your plants.


Clean Dust from Leaves

Indoor plants can accumulate dust on their leaves, which can block sunlight and hinder photosynthesis. Gently wipe down the leaves with a damp cloth to keep them clean and able to absorb as much light as possible.


Monitor for Pests

Even indoor plants can suffer from pests during winter. Dry air and less air circulation can create an ideal environment for spider mites, aphids, or fungus gnats. Inspect your plants regularly and treat infestations early with insecticidal soap or neem oil.


Special Care for Hardy Outdoor Plants

While many outdoor plants are hardy enough to withstand Midwest winters, they still benefit from extra care:


  • Evergreens: These plants continue to lose moisture through their needles during winter, so it's crucial to water them well before the freeze and mulch around the base.

  • Deciduous Trees and Shrubs: For young trees, consider wrapping the trunks with burlap or tree wraps to prevent cracking and damage from frost.

  • Ornamental Grasses: Leave ornamental grasses standing through the winter to provide visual interest and habitat for wildlife. Cut them back in early spring.


Winterizing your plants in the Midwest requires a combination of preparing the soil, insulating the roots, and adjusting care routines. By taking these steps, you can ensure that both your indoor and outdoor plants survive the harsh winter and thrive again in the spring. With a little effort, your garden and houseplants will be ready to bounce back as soon as warmer weather arrives.

 

Looking for a local Landscaper who can assist in winterizing your outdoor gardens, landscaping, and delicate plants?


If you are looking for a professional landscaping company to help with your landscaping ideas in Metamora, Germantown Hills, Peoria, East Peoria, Washington, Morton and surrounding areas? Contact Barrow Landscapes for all your landscaping needs.

 

Barrow Landscapes offers Hardscapes including Paver Walkways, Retaining Walls, Paver Patios to Softscapes including landscape plantings, lawn install and repair, and privacy plantings. Barrow Landscapes also offers landscape lighting and 2D and 3D landscape designs so their clients’ can visualize their dream landscapes with unparalleled clarity and confidence, making informed decisions bringing outdoor visions to life.

 

Call Barrow Landscapes at 309-370.6299 or visit BarrowLandscapes.com. Make an appointment today to get your landscape visions started.





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