Winterizing Your Triangle Home: Essential Prep for Snow Events
When a snow event is forecasted for the Triangle—it’s time to shift from enjoying our mild winters to serious preparation. While significant snowfall is less common here than in other regions, when it does hit, it can cause surprising damage due to ice, freezing rain, and rapid temperature drops. Preparing your property and landscape before the first flake falls is the key to minimizing damage and ensuring a safe, cozy home. Our team at For Garden’s Sake is preparing now and you can too!
Prepare Your Landscape: Focus on Vulnerable Plants
The North Carolina climate, especially in the Piedmont region, can be tough on plants during a sudden freeze. The biggest threats are ice accumulation and sudden drops to below-freezing temperatures after a period of relative warmth.
Protecting Shrubs and Small Trees
- Burlap Wrap: For newly planted or tender shrubs (like certain varieties of Hydrangea or Camellia), wrapping them loosely in burlap can provide a crucial insulating layer against windburn and ice. Cone Protection: Use conical plastic or styrofoam covers for smaller, low-growing plants like roses or groundcovers.
- Anti-Desiccant Spray: Evergreen plants, particularly those exposed to wind, can suffer from winter desiccation (drying out). Applying an anti-desiccant spray on a day above 40°F can help foliage retain moisture. Always do your research or consult with a professional to ensure the product is safe for your specific plants.
Managing Trees and Ice Load
Large trees, particularly those with dead, weakened, or low-hanging limbs, pose the greatest risk during an ice storm.
- Pruning is Proactive: After this storm, consider having a professional tree company look at your property for future events.
- Avoid Over-Pruning: While thinning helps, avoid excessive pruning, which can stress the tree. A certified arborist understands the balance needed for optimal health and safety. Gentle Ice Removal (Caution!): If a light dusting of ice forms, never try to shake heavy ice off a limb, as this can cause it to snap. For small, accessible, flexible branches that are lightly iced, a very gentle brushing might help, but often the best course is to let nature take its course.
Property Prep: Safeguard Your Home’s Infrastructure
Protecting your home goes beyond the landscape and focuses on water systems, gutters, and outdoor structures.
Water Systems
- Disconnect Hoses: Disconnect all garden hoses from outdoor spigots. Water trapped in the hose or faucet can freeze, expand, and burst the pipe inside your wall.
- Cover Spigots: Use insulating foam covers (available at any hardware store) over all exterior hose bibs. Know Your Shut-Off: Locate your main water shut-off valve. If a pipe bursts, shutting off the water quickly can save you from catastrophic flooding.
Gutters and Drainage
- Clear Debris: Ensure gutters and downspouts are completely clear of leaves and debris. Blocked gutters can lead to ice dams, which can force water under your shingles and into your attic or walls.
- Check Downspout Direction: Make sure downspouts direct water away from your home’s foundation to prevent water from freezing and causing foundation damage.
Outdoor Items
- Store Furniture and Decor: Bring lightweight outdoor furniture, planters, garden tools, and decorative items indoors or secure them in a garage or shed. High winds or heavy snow can damage these items or turn them into projectiles.
- Protect Irrigation: Ensure your automatic irrigation system has been properly winterized (blown out) to prevent freeze damage to lines and sprinkler heads.
There is still time this week to prepare! Taking proactive steps now ensures your landscape and home are robust enough to withstand the Triangle's unpredictable snow and ice events. For Garden’s Sake is here if you have any questions and stay safe this winter!