Like we recently mentioned, this whole El Niño business could mean Colorado is in for a pretty rough winter. Fear not – just because your lawn may soon be covered in blankets of snow, it doesn’t mean your shrubs need to suffer.
Just follow our foolproof guide to preparing your plants for winter and you’ll have nothing to worry about.
First things first, you need to know what is okay to prune during the winter and what isn’t. Most of the common shrubs including hydrangea, boxwood and junipers are safe to trim while dormant during late fall and throughout winter. Do not trim shrubs or other plants when they are blooming, as this may put them into shock. See a full list of what plants to trim and when to trim them here.
When you’re doing the actual pruning, be sure the shears are sanitized – dipping them in rubbing alcohol should do the trick. Start with removing the dead branches and gradually work up to the ones that are crisscrossed or weigh down the other branches. Don’t go too far, though. It can be easy to get carried away.
While you’re snipping away, check for signs of insect damage or disease, which include open lesions, swellings or dark patches. It’s best to catch these sooner than later.
There you have it! If you take care of them now, you can just sit back and watch the snow fall until next spring.