How to Prepare Your Outdoor Property for the Colder Weather
Many Florida residents have moved here from the north to enjoy the mild winters common for our state. Florida also has a number of residents who spend their winters here and relocate during the hot summer months. Although our area doesn’t experience extremely cold temperatures during the entire fall and winter season, we do have to deal with short stretches of cold weather and occasional winter freezes. It is important to prepare your property and irrigation systems before the cold weather hits. This will help to prevent any damage and the need for extensive and expensive repairs.
Protect Your Landscaping
In the late fall and early winter, it is important to be mindful of the weather. Be sure to move any potted plants that would not survive a frost to a warmer area of your property, perhaps a garage, or a warmer screened porch. We also advise against fertilizing your plants or landscaping before the winter. Fertilizer helps promote new growth, which cannot survive a frost or colder temperatures. Plants that cannot be moved can be covered to trap warmth before a freeze is expected.
Winterize Your Irrigation System
If you have an irrigation system at your home, it is important to take certain precautions before the cold weather arrives. Although we may not have prolonged cold weather, exposed pipes have the potential to burst or crack when the cold arrives. We can help prepare your irrigation system for the cold weather; however, it is possible to do it yourself. Be sure to cover any exposed pipes with insulation and tape. Now is also a great time to get your sprinkler heads inspected, adjusted, and repaired if damage has occurred over the summer. Taking added precautions now will save a headache in the spring.
Clean Your Property
It is important to clean your property of any debris such as leaves, sticks, and branches before the winter. Anything that covers your grass or landscaping can cause damage and even kill your grass, plants and flowers. Lingering debris is also an invitation for critters to hide and cause additional damage.
Trying to figure out if you need to winterize your irrigation system or how to do it? Challenger Irrigation is at your service. Contact our office in Spring Hill, FL to schedule an appointment with one of our irrigation specialists today.
