Don’t Make These 5 Winter Landscaping Mistakes

These 5 winter landscaping mistakes can cause long-lasting damage. With a little research and preparation all 5 can be reduced if not totally avoided.

5 Winter Landscaping Mistakes

1. Not Watering

Stopping watering too early: Many gardeners assume plants don’t need water in winter. In reality, evergreens and newly planted trees continue to lose moisture through their leaves (transpiration) even in the cold. “Watering conifers in winter is essential because evergreens do not fully go dormant; they continue to lose moisture through their needles during the cold months. “If the ground is frozen, roots cannot replace the water they lose, leading to winter burn, where the needles turn yellow, brown, or a burnt reddish color. Winter burn can permanently damage your trees if left untreated.” — Should You Water Conifers in Winter?
Ignoring dry spells: If the ground is not frozen and there is little rain or snow, you should water your landscape 1–2 times a month, ideally during midday when temperatures are above 40°F.

2. Improper Pruning & Trimming

Pruning spring-bloomers: Trimming shrubs like azaleas, lilacs, or forsythia in winter removes the flower buds set for spring. Wait until after they bloom to prune.
Early fruit tree pruning: Pruning stone fruits (like plums or cherries) in winter can expose them to fungal infections. Wait until late winter/early spring for apple and pear trees.
Trimming before a freeze: Pruning just before cold weather can stimulate new growth that is too tender to survive freezing temperatures.

Pro Tip: “Sheering a tree like a bush can cause permanent damage and cause future pruning to be required more often. Additionally, certain ornamentals, such as crab apples, have thick foliage, which can lead to dieback and disease. Regular thinning greatly improves the looks and health of crab apples.” — Pruning Trees and Shrubs

3. It’s Not Summer Anymore Errors

Walking on frosty grass: Walking on a frozen lawn can snap individual grass blades (which are 80% water) and crush the crowns, leaving “burn” marks that last until spring. “Avoid walking on frozen or frosted grass. When the water inside the blades freezes, it expands and makes them brittle. Stepping on the grass can break the cell walls, leave footprints, and cause damage that weakens your lawn.” — Should You Walk on Frozen Grass?
Scalping the grass: Mowing your lawn too short on the final cut of the season weakens the grass, making it more susceptible to weeds and snow mold.
Leaving leaf piles: Thick layers of unraked leaves can suffocate the turf and trap moisture, encouraging fungal diseases like snow mold.

4. Putting Plants in Harm’s Way

Removing ice manually: Attempting to shake or scrape ice off frozen branches often causes more damage than the ice itself. Let it melt naturally.
Failing to wrap vulnerable plants: Borderline hardy shrubs and young trees should be wrapped in burlap to prevent winter burn from cold winds.

5. Storage Mistakes

Storing bulbs in plastic: Using non-breathable containers for bulbs and tubers traps moisture, leading to rot and mold. Also. one rotting bulb can ruin an entire collection. Inspect stored plants every 2–3 weeks to remove any showing signs of decay.
Not draining hoses and irrigation systems can lead to burst pipes and cracked valves.
Equipment, Mower, etc. If you store your mower, empty the gas or use a fuel stabilizer, according to Consumer Reports. “Simply leaving fuel in the tank all winter can wreak havoc on your mower’s engine. Water from condensation can combine with ethanol in the gas, causing clogs, corrosion, and other problems throughout the fuel system. Come springtime, you could be in for a professional carburetor cleaning to the tune of $75 to $100.”

There you have it, 5 winter landscaping mistakes (and 13 bullet points). It might look like a lot but it doesn’t have to be done all at once. And, when you consider the problems and expense of not doing this, it makes sense.

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Berger Hargis has a company philosophy of providing personal excellence for all our services. Our growth and success have been due entirely to our commitment to honest, excellent customer service. The company is built on the referral business we have received due to this philosophy.

If we can solve a landscaping problem for you, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us.

About the Author

Randy Clark is a speaker, coach, and author. He publishes a weekly blog at Randy Clark Leadership.com. Randy is passionate about social media, leadership development, and flower gardening. He’s a beer geek, and on weekends he can be found fronting the Rock & Roll band Under the Radar. He’s the proud father of two educators; he has four amazing grandchildren and a wife who dedicates her time to helping others. Randy is the author of the Amazon bestseller The New Manager’s Workbook, a crash course in effective management.

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Photo by Irina Spotkai on Unsplash

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