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(This special advertising feature is sponsored by Mueller Farms Landscaping Co.)

The temperature has dropped, there is snow on the ground and the sun seldom shines.

It’s winter!

But, believe it or not, there is a lot happening in our landscape.

Until that solid frost really kicks in, the plant roots are still growing and need water. The earthworms are still doing their thing helping underground. Most of all, our green friends are getting ready to give us the gift of color in spring.

When you think about it, our landscape really takes it hard around here this time of year.

Temperatures can vary significantly and play havoc with early plant budding causing plant loss. The cold wind can attain sustained 40 to 50 mile an hour speeds causing our green friends to lose their water, dry out and die. Physical damage to plant structure with falling ice and snow mounding can be horrible. Salt and other chemical ice melting agents can burn root zones and cause our plants to fail as well.

What to do for best success in our landscape this winter?

I always work with common sense in everything I do. By keeping things simple and consistent we can always do well with our landscape. Winter is really no different.

Here are 6 common sense tips you may find helpful:

• Wrap or cover your sensitive green friends in high wind areas to prevent leaf/needle and twig dry out.

• Teepee plants with wood or similar structure, that live in areas where ice and snow can fall and damage plant structure above ground.

• Keep plant roots moist when there may be no snow cover to prevent root dry out.

• Apply mulch even right now, over root zones to prevent root zone dry out. It is that important.

• When applying salt or other ice melting agents, avoid over usage near plant root zones. These agents will burn plant root zones for sure. Remember grass is a plant too.

• Bring potted plants indoors for the winter, they need your help.

These are very simple steps we all can do to have positive impact in our landscape. No rocket science here. But you would be very surprised how if these simple steps were followed every year with consistency, just how many of our green friends would still be here with us. So take a moment and check to see if you have completed these very simple life savers for your landscape. If not, take some time in your landscape and enjoy our great outdoors! You and your green friends will be glad you did!

Jeff Rogers is a Certified Nursery Landscape Professional. 

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