When it comes to landscaping, every season brings its own set of challenges. Winter is particularly harsh, and the experts at Cincinnati, OH’s Western Hills Builders Supply say the preparations you make during the fall can pay off for a property that shines come spring.

Here are their top tips for pre-winter landscaping prep to give your yard a leg up when the weather warms back up again:

• Wrap Your Delicates: Delicate and expensive plants can be wrapped in burlap to help protect them from the winter weather. Small plants can be covered in upside-down buckets.
• Remove The Dying: Fall is the right time to remove dead or dying shrubs, branches, leaf piles, and other debris. In addition to protecting your grass and plants and preparing them for growth once winter ends, this will keep them from becoming eyesores you’ll have to look at all winter long.
• Fertilize The Lawn: Fall is the perfect time to do one final lawn feeding, since your grass’s roots will keep growing until temperatures fall to about 40 degrees or below.
• Don’t Wait To Mulch: Mulching in the fall is better than waiting until spring. By mulching early, you will protect your plants from the harsh winter cold.
• Shrub It Up: Fall is a great time to plant new shrubs because the roots thrive in cool soil. If you were thinking of planting new shrubs or replacing your old ones, take advantage of the planting window before winter strikes.

In addition to landscaping, fall is a great time to finish any outdoor projects, like adding a retaining wall or installing a fire pit. No matter what you’re working on outside, Western Hills Builders Supply has the materials and the know-how to help you complete your work. They have nearly 100 years of experience helping Cincinnati-area homeowners and contractors get everything they need for a job well done. Give them a call at (513) 574-6200 to see the huge range of products they carry, from electric fireplaces to mulch and roofing materials. You can also visit them online to learn more.