Getting your yard ready for a Toronto winter

Toronto winters are hard on yards. Snow load, road salt, freeze and thaw cycles and drying winds all take a toll. The good news is that most winter damage is preventable with a little work before the first heavy snow.

Clear the leaves

A thick layer of wet leaves left on the lawn over winter blocks light and traps moisture, which can leave dead, matted patches in spring. Rake or mulch them before the snow arrives, and clear leaves out of garden beds where they pile up against plants.

Give the lawn a final mow

Keep mowing until the grass stops growing, and make the last cut slightly shorter than your summer height. Long grass tends to fold over under snow, which makes it more prone to mould.

Protect evergreens and young shrubs

Broadleaf evergreens, cedars near the road and anything planted this year are the most at risk. Burlap wrapping shields them from salt spray, winter sun and wind. Avoid wrapping in plastic, which traps heat and moisture.

• Water evergreens deeply before the ground freezes.
• Tie up upright shrubs that tend to split under heavy snow.
• Keep salt piles and snowbanks away from planting beds where you can.

Mark your edges

Driveway and walkway edges disappear under the first snowfall. Reflective stakes along the edges help whoever clears your snow keep the plow or blower off the lawn and out of your garden beds.

Plan your snow clearing now

If you want help with snow clearing or ice control this season, it is easier to arrange before the first storm than after it.