SHOOTS & MATTERS: Winter Wonderland...Just Wonder, and Wander

Winter is officially here - time to hibernate. Nope.

The good news is: After today we start to receive more daylight as we approach spring. Yesss!

Many of you may remember the snow of 2011. This photo is of my driveway at a little place I had at Lake Murray on January 10 of that year.

Yes, it was a Winter Wonderland and the song of the same title is a wonderful song.

Well, enough of all this wonderment. Let's think of the other use of the word, as in:

Get out on your property, look around and wonder about all the things you can accomplish now instead of waiting until spring.

Why wait for spring to get your property ready for spring? As if that makes sense.

Spring is the time for caring for and maintaining and enjoying your property instead of running around trying to catch up and hoping to find the right people to help you.

Simply go and wander around and look at the things which need attention and don't necessarily need a warm and sunny day to be taken care of, such as:

Pruning certain shrubs and trees for health reasons and aesthetics. Raise canopies of tree-like shrubs and trees. Most any shrub or tree can be pruned most any time of year for health reasons, even those spring bloomers. You will most likely notice the aesthetic benefits as well.
Refreshing or replacing mulch in plant and mulch beds if nearby leaf-drop is done.
Re-establishing plant and mulch bed borders to better reflect plant growth and size, and to make them stand out.
Pruning back encroaching shrub and tree branches from neighboring properties.
Having soil tested for plant beds and your lawn. Although fertilizer should not be applied this time of year, this is a good time to get the jump on applying lime if your pH needs adjusting. This will also give you time to plan for fertilization.
Pressure washing horizontal and lower vertical surfaces such as decks, patios and retaining walls, particularly the more porous concrete materials which have darkened over the year(s). Pressure washing above chest-level or overhead may be quite a wet and chilly endeavor this time of year, but you may find the right warmer and sunny day.
Repairing your existing irrigation system or installing a new one.
Upgrading your landscape lighting to LED or installing a new LED system.
Repairing your existing hardscapes and walkways or installing something new and exciting.
Correcting water erosion and drainage issues.
Applying spring and winter pre-emergent weed herbicide in late winter. We'll let you know when.