Winter is coming
It’s a phrase made famous by the hit TV show ‘Game of Thrones’ and you’re probably going to be hearing it a lot over the next few months; ‘Winter is coming’. But that doesn’t mean that everything needs to grind to a halt because of a cold snap.
During winter, we tend to see lower levels of activity in farms and estates. There are fewer people using the land as they retreat indoors. On farms, cattle tend to be brought in for the winter months too so they’re not out grazing. All of this makes winter the perfect time to get on top of land and property maintenance and prepare for the spring and summer months ahead.
In this post we’re going to go over some key things that you can get done on and around your property during winter to make the most of the cold months and prepare for the year ahead.
1. Prepare for Wildflower Planting
Wildflowers are becoming more and more popular with farms, estates and local authorities. Wildflowers offer an environmentally sustainable and cost effective alternative to grass and other similar solutions that require a lot of maintenance and upkeep. Wildflower sowing is perfect when adopting an Integrated Weed Management (IWM) approach for amenity weed maintenance. We help many local authorities with their weed management strategy.
So what are the main benefits?
- Wildflowers require a lot less maintenance than traditional grass solutions and they don’t need to be mowed or maintained as often. This helps to cut down on costs as well as carbon emissions, making them a great option for areas such as verges.
- Wildflowers are very hearty and can thrive on often dry areas (like verges) and they’re great at providing stability to slopes and hills, too!
Winter is the perfect time to undertake the installation of wildflower meadows. During winter the grass and land are dormant, frost permeates the soil and helps to break it down naturally. Preparing the ground in winter ensures that by spring it is ready to finish preparation and sewing of seeds, the soil will produce a better tilth – creating the ideal conditions for your wildflower meadow to flourish.
2. Install New or Replacement Fencing
Over time fences start to suffer from the effects of wear-and-tear – through use, weathering and the attention of livestock. Whatever the reason, it is necessary to keep up the maintenance of your fencing around the property.
Additionally, as time goes on and there are changes to the property, rezoning of the land or new developments, the installation of new fending can also be required. This is especially true for estates, farms, new build developments and urban areas.
Winter is the perfect time to start undertaking installation and maintenance of your fencing. Winter usually brings with it reduced activity on fields, farmland and estates and less grazing for farm animals. Carrying out work during winter means that we can clear and take down fencing and rebuild the new fencing with less disruption.
3. Get rid of slippery Moss and Algae
Winter is the perfect time to undertake the initial treatment of Moss and Algae growth.
Moss and Algae can be a frustration when it is allowed to build-up on hard surfaces such as pavements, walls and outdoor furniture. Moss and Algae doesn’t just make the property look tired and neglected, however. In winter, Moss can become quite a hazard.
Winter conditions such as rain, snow and ice often make Moss and Algae a slipping hazard, so it is more important to remove these over the winter months to ensure the safety of those using those spaces Moss and Algae affects.
For these reasons, sports facilities and care homes often pay special attention to Moss build-up during the winter months, to keep visitors and residents safe.
4. Plant some trees!
Trees are amazing things. Trees offer great environmental functionality. They capture carbon and that helps to offset the carbon footprint. They provide natural beauty, natural habitats for wildlife, prevent flooding, produce oxygen and their roots help to stabilise slopes and verges. It’s no surprise that the Government has grants and schemes running to encourage people to grow woodlands on their land.
For these reasons more and more people are turning to tree planting as a natural and environmentally sustainable solution.
Winter is the perfect time to undertake tree planting. Saplings tend to take better when planted bare-root in the winter months. Winter also tends to have less activity from insects, wildlife and weeds too, allowing the sapling to take root and have the best chances of growth. Planting in winter usually causes less disruption which is especially important for farmlands and estates.
5. Control or Eradicate woody shrubs such as Rhododendron Ponticum
For private landowners and estate managers the fact is Rhododendron ponticum is a highly invasive shrub and it’s spreading!
Rhododendron ponticum might be best known for its stunning bright pink/purple flowers and impressive shrub growth, but it is an incredibly tough non-native invasive species. It’s highly resilient and spreads prolifically through seeds.
Rhododendron is also known to be the main woodland host for two fungal pathogens that have recently been identified in Britain The pathogens Phytophthora ramorum and Phytophthora kernoviae, are species subject to Plant Health regulation.
Winter is the perfect time to undertake control of Rhododendron infestations. During winter many plants enter a more dormant state when the sugars within the plant are flowing into the root system. Treatment in winter can improve the absorption of herbicides into the root system and help to kill the plant.
Other woody shrubs that are best controlled in winter include:
6. Clear out ditches and drain outflows
As we move into winter, and especially through the autumn months, ditches and and drain outflows can become clogged with all manner of debris like leaves, sediments, branches, mud and other vegetation.
Clearing field ditches important for managing the flow of water around farms and estates. Leaving these untended can put the land at risk of flooding during the wetter months – causing issues for yourself and your neighbours.
Keeping on top of the clearance and maintenance of ditches and drainage is something that can be monitored all year round, but it is especially good to undertake clearance of the facilities through autumn and winter when the wetter weather and increased debris becomes problematic.
Wrapping it up
So there you have it. 6 things that landowners should do this winter to prepare for the spring and summer months ahead! By no means an exhaustive list, but certainly a list of things that Environment Controls can help with.
If you’d like help with any of the above services get in touch.