How to Prepare Your Lawn and Landscaping for Winter
Bergen County winters punish unprepared yards: matted leaves kill turf, freeze-thaw heaves shallow plants, and the first heavy snow finds every unmarked obstacle. November is the month to get ahead of all of it.
Lawn: the final cut
Make the last mow of the season slightly lower than summer height — around 2.5–3 inches — so long grass does not mat under snow and invite snow mold. Get every last leaf off; matted leaves are the #1 winter lawn killer.
Beds: tuck them in
Cut back dead perennial foliage, clear leaves off mulch, and make sure mulch is pulled back from trunks (winter moisture against bark is worse than summer moisture). A light top-up only where thin.
Plants: protect the vulnerable
Wrap exposed evergreens prone to winter burn, especially new plantings. Water everything deeply before the ground freezes — winter drought kills more plants than cold in NJ.
Property: prep for snow season
Mark driveway edges and hidden obstacles, trim branches overhanging the drive, and confirm your snow removal terms now — not during the first storm.
Winter-prep checklist
- Final mow lower; remove all leaves
- Cut back perennials; tidy beds
- Deep-water everything before freeze
- Wrap vulnerable evergreens
- Mark snow obstacles; confirm snow service
Our fall cleanup and snow removal cover the heavy lifting. Get a winter estimate.
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