Get the backyard ready for winter

This month, homeowners in many parts of the United States are feeling just a hint of fall in the air. As we squeeze out the last few warm weeks of outdoor adventures, we can also take steps to ensure that next year’s lawn and garden can withstand all the fun we come up with.

Each September, the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) recognizes National Preparedness Month, to encourage and remind Americans to be prepared for disasters or emergencies in their homes, businesses, and communities. There are steps you can take to prevent damage to your home before storms strike. Consider the following:

What worked this year?

Take a good close look at the annuals you chose for your deck, patio, or landscape border. Which ones flourished in the shade, or didn’t droop too much in the hot sun?

Avid gardeners in the last century often kept a diary that noted bloom times and performance of the flowers and shrubs they planted – but today’s gardener has a smartphone. Take lots of photos of your landscaping plan and create a folder of the results so you can remember what to buy, what not to buy, and where to put it when it’s time to hit the nursery next spring.

Take into consideration that even though we most likely won’t experience extreme drought in the greater San Antonio area, summers are typically hot and dry so opt for plants that don’t require supplemental watering. This year we have had an abundance of rain but that isn’t typically the norm.

The National Drought Mitigation Center has a dynamic map that has a fascinating look at the drought levels across Texas. In fact, there are different types of droughts and they can hit simultaneously.

Water, water everywhere.

You’ll put away your lawnmower for the winter in the next few months, but before you stow the hose, give your lawn a good soaking. New grass – and fall, by the way, is the best time to replenish or re-sod your lawn – trees, and shrubs that you have planted within the last five years, especially young evergreens are most susceptible to drought.

If you are considering planting additional trees this year, the best low water trees in Texas are Cedar Elm, Southern Red Oak, Texas Ash and Live Oak, Texas Oak, Black Cherry and Arizona Cypress just to name a few. These drought tolerant trees do well in our area and climate zone.

You know your lawn and garden have enough moisture to get through the winter if you can stick a screwdriver into the ground and still feel dampness at a depth of six inches. If you don’t, remember to take advantage of the occasionally mild winter day and pull out that hose and sprinkler: About an inch of water a month should keep your plants healthy through the dry winter.

There’s an app for that.

Some homeowners may want to invest in an irrigation system to save the time and effort of hauling hoses around. While they’ve long been part of residential landscapes in the arid West, homeowners in rainier parts of the country can see their advantages, particularly to maintain a well-hydrated lawn in the winter.

Many irrigation systems include controllers that use a simple timer to operate sprinklers at particular times of the day, regardless of if it is rainy, if the temperature is too hot or cold, or if it is a particularly windy day. All these weather factors can increase water loss when irrigating your landscape, costing you money.

If you are thinking about installing or upgrading your sprinkler system, the Environmental Protection Agency recommends that you consider a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller — one that uses local weather data and landscape conditions to tailor how much water to use. These devices, some of which work with your smart phone or smart home system, can save an average of 7,600 gallons of water annually.

Get more tips and find a professional to help you with your landscaping and lawn-care questions by visiting the Greater San Antonio Builders Association’s (GSABA) website at www. sabuilders.com.

Sincerely,

Image islandworks from Pixabay