After the last of the bright colors of fall have faded, it can be too easy to forget about your landscape until spring. Yet you may be in for an unpleasant surprise once the snows melt in spring and reveal a bedraggled lawn. To avoid issues caused during winter to your landscape, read through the following for some advice on prepping your landscape for winter.

Tip #1: Make sure all debris is cleared away

It's important to remove as many fallen leaves, conifer needles, and other types of plant debris as possible before snow covers the yard. Leaving these in place traps moisture against the lawn, which can lead to issues like snow mold or suffocated dead spots in the lawn. It may be tempting to simply rake the leaves into a pile over your garden beds, but this can also for more harm than good -- particularly in perennial beds where dormant plants can be suffocated or attached by molds if the leaves don't break down quickly enough. If you want to use the raked leaves as mulch, mow over them a few times to break them into smaller pieces. This way, they won't compact over the beds, and they will be able to quickly break down into a nutrient-dense soil additive.

Tip #2: Mow your lawn one last time

Don't let your grass go into winter overgrown. The final mow of the season should occur once growing has all but stopped but before the grass goes brown for the season. Cut it up to one inch shorter than you normally cut it during the summer season. This way the grass won't become compacted down beneath any snow or ice, an issue that contributes to snow mold problems in late winter and spring. There's also no need to fertilize in fall, although fall is a good time to spread some turf pesticide and herbicide products. Read the labels to verify the best season for any treatments you are considering.

Tip #3: Protect sensitive trees and shrubs

Evergreens, particularly shrubs, can become wind burnt if they are exposed to drying winter winds. Wrapping them loosely in burlap, leaving the top open for airflow, prevents this issue. Also, make sure they are pruned so they have a domed top. A flat-topped shrub can be damaged if it collects snow weight, while snow simply slides off a domed shrub. Finally, trim away any broken or diseased branches so they aren't torn off in winter storms.

Contact a landscape company and visit websites such as https://www.allamericanlandscapedesign.com/ for more help in prepping your yard for winter.