Winter Maintenance Planning:
What Commercial Properties Should Do Now

Winter Pruning

Winter is the ideal time to prune most deciduous trees and many shrubs because they’re dormant — meaning pruning won’t interrupt active growth. With no leaves, it’s also easier to see structure and make clean, purposeful cuts. Shrubs that bloom on new wood, like smooth hydrangea, hydrangea paniculata, butterfly bush, and spirea, can be safely pruned now. However, plants that bloom on old wood (azaleas, rhododendrons, forsythia, bigleaf hydrangea, and others) should wait until just after flowering to protect next year’s blooms. Evergreens, which are not fully dormant, are best left for early spring.

Protect Sensitive Plants

Broadleaf evergreens and tender shrubs may benefit from burlap wraps, anti-desiccant sprays, or insulating mulch to help reduce winter burn and root stress.

Clear Leaves and Debris

Removing leaf buildup from turf and beds helps prevent mold, rot, and pest issues during long stretches of cold, wet weather.

Assess Drainage Areas

Ensuring detention basins, swales, and catch basins remain clear allows water to move properly through freeze–thaw cycles, reducing the chance of pooling or flooding.

With the right preparation now, your property stays safer and healthier throughout the coldest months.

Eco-Conscious Ice Melting Products: 
What to Use and How to Use Them

Snow and ice are inevitable—but damage to your landscape doesn’t have to be. Choosing the right ice melt and using it properly protects plants, turf, hardscapes, and the environment.

Know Your Options:

• Traditional Rock Salt (Sodium Chloride): Effective but harsh. It can dehydrate turf, burn shrubs, and corrode concrete and metal. Best used sparingly and never near plant beds.
• Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA): A more eco-friendly option that is less damaging to vegetation and surfaces. Works best in moderate cold.
• Calcium Chloride: Fast-acting and effective to very low temperatures. Less damaging than rock salt but still requires careful application.
• Pet-Safe / Plant-Safe Blends: Many commercial blends reduce chloride content, making them gentler on landscaping and runoff areas.

Application Tips:

1. Apply before storms when possible—creates a protective barrier.
2. Spread evenly and avoid over-applying, which is a leading cause of plant burn.
3. Keep products away from root zones, freshly seeded areas, and sensitive shrubs.
4. Sweep excess after ice melts to prevent buildup.

Eco-conscious use keeps walkways safe while protecting your landscape—and your long-term investment.

Protecting Your Landscape Investment In Winter

Winter is harder on commercial properties than most realize. Between freeze–thaw cycles, salt exposure, snow load, and wildlife activity, every part of your landscape faces stress.

Here’s what happens—and how proper winter care helps:

• Turf: Turfgrass can suffer crown damage from ice, snow compaction, and salt spray. Proper fall aeration, cleanup, and controlled salt use reduce patchy spring die-off.
• Beds & Perennials: Mulch acts as insulation, preventing frost heave and protecting roots. Cutting back perennials also prevents winter rot and supports healthier regrowth.
• Trees & Shrubs: Heavy snow and ice can cause cracking or limb loss. Structural pruning, staking weak young trees, and applying anti-desiccants help them withstand the elements.
• Irrigation Systems: Proper winterization prevents pipe bursts, broken heads, and costly spring repairs.

With smart preparation, your landscape will weather winter more smoothly and enter spring ready to thrive.

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