Do you live in a cold climate and are you anxious about all of the outdoor work you didn’t finish during spring, summer or fall? Winter might still a great time to accomplish some of your landscaping goals. Newer owners of extensive acreage (like me) learn quickly that it’s often impossible to get everything done during the warmer months and still enjoy their property. As long as there is no snow on the ground where I’ll be working, it’s not windy, and the base temperature is at least 25 degrees Fahrenheit, I’m willing to work outside. If you feel like you don’t have any time to lose and need encouragement to bundle up and get back out there, here are my top five reasons to landscape in winter:
- (Virtually) No Insects. Though ticks can still be a threat, it’s a relief not to worry about being bitten by mosquitos, horseflies, deer flies, etc. Also, bees are not as active (I think they stay in their hives when it’s near or below freezing, in survival mode). A swarm of yellow jackets chased my sister and me two summers ago. Luckily, we suffered only a few stings, but each one was very painful.
- Easier Terrain to Navigate. Some areas here are prone to bogginess from snowmelt or heavy rains; winter is a great time to work in them. Once the ground is rock solid, if I use heavier equipment such as a brush hog I can more easily navigate wetter areas. I cover more ground in less time and use less energy – that’s a win-win! And, if I need to drag any big logs across the hayfields, I don’t create unnecessary ruts. On a project-specific basis: while the ground is firm this winter, I plan to clear the remaining thick brambles that grow near the vernal stream. They had all but eclipsed the views of this lovely feature.
- Greater Visibility. With bare plants all around, I can see much more clearly how vegetation is growing and target cuts more effectively. I don’t mean the pruning of shrubs or flowers, but the removal of an entire plant. Also, I can see stumps and rocks, serious trip hazards that can also damage cutting blades. I’ve been studying what’s growing here for the last few years so I know what I want to get rid of. If you aren’t sure what is growing on your property, you may want to wait a season or two then decide what to keep. On the flip side, winter may make it clear that you need more privacy from your neighbors or passersby, in which case you’ll want to fill in your landscape come springtime.
- Lighter Debris. Deciduous vegetation has shed its leaves so without all that bulk, I think it’s easier to move. Again, I remove only what I’ve determined during the growing season that I don’t want.
- Ice. Sometimes ice is helpful when moving vegetation. I still need to clear some of the fire pond’s perimeter. As I stand on firm ground at the pond’s frozen edge it’s much easier to drag cut branches over ice than it is to pull them out of water, especially after they’ve leafed out. I would never venture onto the pond itself and know that working near any body of water at any time of year can be very dangerous. It’s best to have an arborist handle this type of work.
On my 25 acres I have a few large overgrown areas left to clear and several fallen, mature trees that need to be cut for firewood (or maybe furniture!). During the last few weeks, I’ve cut what I can with my electric chain saw, stacked some firewood, and added the rest to my chipping pile. My brother will cut the bigger pieces with his more powerful, gas-powered chainsaw.
Unfortunately, we’re expecting at least 6-12 inches of snow starting tomorrow morning . . . so, this week I’ll only be moving snow and waiting for the temperature to rise.
Winter can be very taxing on the human body and negatively impact the performance of certain tools/equipment. It can also create dangerous conditions on the ground and overhead. Let’s all be careful out there!
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The Old Barns at Christmastime