Tips To Care For Your Hardscape This Winter

Blog

If you have a beautiful concrete patio, a new rock wall, or a brick pathway made with pavers, it's important to understand that your hardscaping does require some maintenance, even during the winter months. Winter can be rough on hard surface landscape elements, so proper preparation and care is essential for making sure these elements are not ruined over the course of many long winters.

Here's what you need to know about caring for hardscapes during the winter time:

Be careful with the salt.

The most major damage that comes with winter is the corrosion that comes from salt. Many rock salts used for ice melt are corrosive to concrete. They will cause the surface of the material to become pocked and rough, marring the finish of stamped or stained concrete and ruining the integrity of concrete paving stones. You can opt to use sand as a method of taking the slip out of ice instead of using salt. This is especially important if your concrete is new -- new concrete is more susceptible to damage from salt. To avoid ice build up, shovel off snow as soon as it falls. 

Plastic is safer than metal.

Don't use a metal shovel on concrete hardscapes. Instead, invest in a heavy-duty shovel made from sturdy plastic. Metal shovels can catch and scrape into concrete, leaving permanent gouge marks. Unless you're going for that rustic look, it's better to avoid the risk. 

Cracks need to be repaired ahead of time. 

Cold weather makes small cracks become larger. Before the snow falls, inspect your patio and bricks for cracks and repair them before the frost. This way, the freezing weather won't cause the crack to extend through more of the surface. You also won't have to worry as much about frost heave if your cracks and the concrete is properly sealed. 

Store if you can. 

Some elements of your hardscape can actually be stored through the winter time. For example.bird baths can be removed to keep them out of the ay of ice and snow. You can also take out stepping stones, stone or concrete water fountains, and decorative statues. If you take them out without majorly affecting your landscape, storing them in a dry place is the best way to extend their life.

Winter can be hard on your yard, but with the right care, you won't have to worry. For more information on hardscape installation, contact a local landscaping company.

Share

28 November 2017

Understanding Landscaping Planning

About a year ago, I realized that part of the reason the plants in my yard kept dying was the fact that they were planted in the wrong places. I didn't pay much attention to which plants needed certain amounts of light, and it was costing them their lives. Several of the plants were really struggling to live, and it was really hard to see. I realized that if I ever wanted to make things right, I would need to create a landscaping plan that would work well for the natural landscape of my yard. This blog is all about understanding landscaping.