We love the outdoors, but we know winter storms are nothing to ignore. It is important to have a winter weather survival kit in your home in case there is a prolonged severe storm. We have recently seen from the hurricanes how severe weather can impact a community and we want to help make sure your family stays safe this winter season.
The main challenges during a winter storm are keeping your home warm, communications, food, and water. FEMA used to tell people to keep enough of everything to last 72 hours after the storm, but some people in the latest disasters have not had much help for five to seven days. Their current recommendation has been updated for two weeks worth of supplies. Be sure to top off the gas tank in your car, too so you don’t get stranded out in the cold.
Keeping Warm
Keeping warm is the most important goal during and after a winter storm. If the power stays on, that is not usually a problem. If the power goes out, you will have to find an alternate way to stay warm. Warm clothes that allow you to dress in layers and warm blankets can help when the house starts to cool.
Fireplaces, wood stoves, and kerosene heaters can be helpful if you have enough fuel. Do not burn charcoal indoors as it will produce a lot of carbon monoxide, which can be deadly. Gas powered generators can be helpful to run your refrigerator/freezer, a furnace fan, sump pump, and a phone charger. Generators must stay outside in a dry area away from air intake vents. Do not put it in the garage as that may spread deadly fumes into your house.
Communications
Few people still have landlines, so communication may be a challenge. Keeping your phone charged helps the phone last longer. Power banks are not very expensive and will recharge your phone several times, and they even make solar-powered ones now. Phones will last longer if you reserve them for important phone calls. Battery-operated radios or crank-powered radios can help you find out important information, like boil water orders, road closures, or where to get supplies.
Food and Water
You should have enough food for each person for them to eat for two weeks if possible. You also may not have a way to cook your food or even heat it up. Pick food that you can eat cold, such as canned beans, veggies, or soups. Granola bars, calorie-dense cereal, dried fruit, nuts, and other foods that do not require cooking or refrigeration are useful, too. Make sure you have a hand-powered can opener along with your supplies, or make sure the cans have pull tops. Camping stoves can be used to heat food but must be used outdoors due to the fumes.
You should store enough water for each person to have a gallon of water to drink each day. If you have a bathtub, you can fill it with water to use for flushing the toilet. If you run out of water and get desperate, you can even boil snow for ten minutes before using it for drinking to survive.
Emergency Kit Items
Put emergency kit items in a backpack, tub, or other container where everyone can find them. Note that camping supplies are often put away in the winter but may contain many of the things you need.
Flashlights
Extra batteries for everything
Battery-operated or crank AM/FM radio and/or NOAA weather radio
Water
Food
Extra changes of clothing for everyone
Power bank
Cash (ATMs may not work or be empty)
First aid kit
Prescription medicines
Tool kit
Hand sanitizer
Trash bags
Shovel
Salt
Plastic sheeting and duct tape to patch windows or roof
Diapers and baby supplies
Board games, physical books, or cards to pass the time
If you have to travel, be very careful.
Winter Car Necessities
An emergency kit in your car can mean the difference between life and death. Try to avoid traveling during a storm. Get home before it starts. However, you may have to travel in an emergency, so you need a car emergency kit, too. First, duplicate the home emergency kit and add these items:
Knife
Tissues
Toilet paper
Paper towels
Cat litter or sand
Complete change of clothing
Large can for emergency toilet
Small can to melt water
Matches
Car tool kit
Shovel
Windshield scraper and brush
Jumper cables
Water container
Tow rope
Flares
Pets belong indoors when it is cold.
Don’t Forget The Pets
Your pets will need supplies, too. You will need food for each animal and some water for them. Pets eat more when it is cold, so consider that when making sure you have enough food for them. During storms, the pets should be inside with you, not out in the cold. You can use pee pads on the tile or concrete if the weather is not safe for the pet to venture out in. For cats, store extra litter and trash bags to store the used litter in. If your pets take prescription medications or eat prescription diets, make sure you have enough for the storm and while waiting for the snowplow to get through.
Having a home and car emergency kit is just smart. It could mean the difference between life and death if the storm is severe. Stay prepared and stay safe.
Over the years, Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping has heard a lot of myths about caring for your lawn and garden. Here are our top myths and what plants really need to survive the winter and early spring.
Myth: Plants don’t need water in winter.
While plants are dormant in the winter, that doesn’t mean they don’t need water. Water allows plants to regulate their temperature as well as transport nutrients. Dormancy slows down a plant’s metabolism, but they can’t go without a drink all winter any more than we can. For more information, check out our article on winter watering.
Myth: Plants don’t need food in the winter.
By the same token, being dormant means you do not fertilize in the winter. However, a fall fertilization provides your plants with food through the winter and into early spring. Without that food, plants have a hard time coming out of dormancy and greening up in the spring. We fertilize in the fall for our garden care clients when we clean out and refresh their landscape beds.
Myth: Winter sun is not harmful to plants.
Sunscald can happen in the winter to young trees or older trees with thin bark. Most of these do not have leaves in the winter to protect the bark. Wrap young trees with tree wrap from the bottom of the trunk to the first branches to protect them from the sun.
Myth: Pruning should wait until spring.
Pruning to remove growth should be done in late winter or early spring. However, pruning to remove dead or diseased branches should be done when they are found. Avoid pruning away freeze damage until spring because another freeze can cause more damage to the newly pruned branch.
Myth: Mulching is only for summer.
We recommend a three-inch layer of mulch in the spring, with another inch put down in the fall. The mulch protects plant roots from temperature fluctuations and helps prevent the soil from heaving or drying out.
Myth: Plants don’t need protection from winter winds.
Winter winds can whip across evergreen needles and dry them out, leading to winter burn. Treating evergreens with Wilt-Pruf in the fall can protect them from losing the moisture they need to avoid winter burn.
In addition, young plants can be damaged by harsh winds. Windbreaks that allow the sun in but not the wind can protect them from having branches broken off.
Myth: All pests are dormant in winter.
Pests frequently overwinter in dead plants or under the bark of trees. Cleaning landscape beds of plant debris can destroy these pests, so they do not attack your plants in the spring. Other debris, such as dead branches, cardboard, or lumber, can also shield pests, so keep your landscape neat.
Sign up For Garden Care Program
Now is a good time to sign up for Royal Creation Architectural Landscaping’s Garden Care Program. We will come out in the spring, clean the beds, and cut back perennials and prune out dead wood. The blue crew will also fertilize, apply pre-emergent, and apply a layer of dark mulch to make your property pop and help get the plants started off right for the growing season. If you are interested in signing up, please call our office at 816-825-2524 or schedule a consultation.
Keeping your outdoor living area looking appealing during the winter can be difficult. Most of the plants are dormant and there may even be a layer of snow covering your landscape. However, there are ways that you can add interest to your winter garden. Here are some tips from our experience in the garden.
Evergreen Plants
Evergreen plants stay green and lush no matter what the temperature is. Juniper, holly, and other evergreen plants will stand out in the winter landscape. Boxwoods such as Green Velvet for hedges or Graham Blandy for tall, skinny spaces like entryways are very hardy and do well in our area. Evergreen trees like specialty spruces can be a great winter accent. The key is to give them plenty of water in late fall and on warm days during the winter. Applying wilt-pruf to broad-leaf evergreens in the fall is also very helpful to help these evergreens retain the moisture they need to avoid winter burn.
Berries and Fruits
Many plants have berries or fruit that stay on the plant all winter. Holly has pretty red berries that birds feed on all winter. American beauty berries, possum haw, and buckbrush are a few native plants with red berries that stay all winter.
Colorful Bark
Some plants have interesting bark. Crape myrtles have bark that sheds in strips. Ninebark also has exfoliating bark. Arctic Fire Red twig dogwoods also have a bright red stem that stands out against the snow. Having different colored bark with some hanging from the trunk adds visual interest and contrast to the garden.
Winter-Flowering Plants
While most flowers bloom in the warmer months, there are plants that flower in the winter. Winter bulbs such as crocus, snowdrops, daffodils, grape hyacinths, snowflakes, and tulips can add welcome color during the winter. Hellebores are also a fun winter flowering perennial that offers a nice surprise in the snow. Other winter flowering plants include common witch hazel, a native plant, and cold hardy pansies. While pansies are technically an annual, they will survive our winters and have a showy bloom all the way through spring.
Structural Elements
A stone wall can add interest to a landscape no matter what the season. Statues, paver paths, and other hardscape elements add interest even in the winter when the plants around them may be dormant. Water features can also create a focal feature and run through most of the winter and can be heated fairly easily as well.
Ornamental Grasses
Ornamental grasses are a great way to add interest to your landscape. They stay upright and maintain their bulk until they are trimmed in the spring. Maiden grass has silvery plumes that persist into winter. Switchgrass is another grass that looks nice in the fall and well into the winter.
Winter Containers
Colorful containers of winter hardy plants like ornamental kale, pansies, or evergreens can add bright spots in the garden. They also look nice in those pots by the entryway that no longer have summer flowers in them.
Pathways and Lighting
Paver or natural stone pathways, patios, and decks continue to provide interest even in winter. Using lighting to strategically accent hardscapes or specimen plants that look good all winter can also add interest to the landscape.
Garden Art and Decor
Incorporating sculptures or other garden art can spice up a winter landscape. Colorful murals on fences or a painted sculpture can add splashes of color to the area. They also add personality to your garden. Don’t forget to shine a light on them with shorter days to show them off in the dark as well.
Bird Feeders and Houses
Birds are fun to watch in the winter and they really appreciate bird feeders, bird houses, and suet balls. Colorful feeders and painted birdhouses add their own interest to the yard. You can take a pinecone and roll it in peanut butter, then sunflowers, and hang it on a branch or near a window to provide the birds with food if you don’t want something more permanent.
Ready or not, here comes the snow. Are you prepared to deal with de-icing your hardscape? Here are some suggestions we have used to keep things snow and ice-free.
Snow Shovels
A snow shovel is definitely different from a garden or digging shovel. For one thing, snow shovels are usually lighter and wider, around 18-24 inches. They are designed to do one of three things: scoop the snow, push the snow, or both. You can even get electric snow shovels now (not sure how well they work). A push shovel is better than a scoop shovel for large jobs and large areas. A scoop shovel is better for tight confined areas. Either one may have an ergonomic handle to help prevent back pain when shoveling.
Plastic shovels are lighter but are not good if you have to chip away at hard ice and are more prone to break. Steel shovels are good at hard snow and ice removal and are very durable but may be heavy. Aluminum is stronger than plastic but may bend or break when removing hard ice that requires chipping away. Choose the best shovel you can afford for the type of snow and ice in your area. The Blue Crew likes to use the wider plastic shovels for pushing snow, and we break out our landscape shovels when we need to chip away at heavy ice.
Snow Blowers
Snow blowers come in several types. Electric snow blowers are capable of clearing light snow. They are commonly used on decks and steps that larger mowers won’t fit on. Electric snow blowers are usually less heavy-duty than other snow blowers and wear out faster. They also throw anything they encounter, including rocks and other debris. However, they are low maintenance and easy to use.
Single-stage snow blowers are gasoline-powered. They scoop up the snow and shoot it out the shoot. In addition to being cheaper than other gasoline-powered blowers, they are smaller and lighter. They can handle up to twelve inches of snow so you might have to clear snow multiple times during a storm. Don’t use them on a rock driveway as they will throw the rocks.
Two-stage snow blowers are more powerful than both electric snow blowers and single-stage snow blowers. They can handle as much as eighteen inches of snow and power through drifts. The snow is picked up by the auger, and then thrown through the shoot. They can be used on concrete and rock driveways. However, they are heavier and more expensive than the first two types of snow blowers.
Three-stage snow blowers are the most powerful walk-behind mowers for consumers. Augers pick up the snow, then it is moved to the middle, where it is chopped and thrown fifty feet out of the shoot. If you have to push through frozen walls of ice the snowplow left behind, you will need a three-stage snow blower. They often feature heated grips, self-propelled wheels, and single-push shoot control.
Snow Pushing Equipment
For those of you with a bigger budget and who like your toys, you can invest in all types of snow-pushing equipment. There are small plows that you can put on the front of a mower or ATV to help clear driveways. We use our bobcats with blades on them to clear snow whenever possible, and of course, you can put a plow on a truck if you really have a lot to clear.
Ice Melt & Pre-Treating
Ice melt can work wonders for helping to clear snow and ice during the winter. Some types of ice melt like old-fashioned salt can cause damage to concrete if left over time. Salt is typically used for asphalt roads and parking lots, but when it is left on your concrete driveway or walkway for too long can cause some serious damage. We prefer to use magnesium chloride or calcium magnesium acetate to help melt ice and snow. These products are less damaging to concrete surfaces. The Blue Crew tends to pre-treat whenever possible. This is the magic secret to making your life easier with it comes to snow. By putting down a thin coating of ice melt prior to the storm, you can usually save yourself some serious work later. The snow at the bottom will not stick as much and helps prevent a bottom layer of ice when shoveling. In some cases, during light snow, the ice melt can really minimize the amount of scraping or shoveling that needs to be done.
Careful of Your Pavers Though
While removing snow and ice is important, you need to be careful when doing so on pavers. It is best to avoid de-icing chemicals on pavers. These will strip the seal on the pavers and over time can cause flaking on the top. The flaking will eventually leave dimples on top that collect water, ice, and leaves. Use a snow shovel or snow blower instead. You would hate to ruin your investment in your paver patio or walkway due to too many ice melt treatments.
Remove Snow the Right Way
Take the time now to make sure that you are prepared for the snow this season. Evaluate your hard surface areas and what is a priority for clearing during a storm. Get the right tools for the job and have a game plan. Don’t forget about your guests and the mailman when you clear your property. A snow-covered landscape is such a beautiful sight, and when you have clean and clear surfaces, it makes it even more breathtaking. Best of luck this winter and have a Happy Holiday Season from Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping!
December is the time of the year that many people decorate their houses and outdoor living spaces for the holidays. We love decorating for the holidays and have some suggestions for what you can do.
Lights
Lights really brighten up the outdoors this season. There are two ways you can go with holiday lights: temporary lights and changing your permanent lights to suit the season.
Temporary lights can be very energy efficient if they use low-voltage LED lights. These can be plugged into a photovoltaic cell that automatically turns them on at dusk and off at dawn. You can also use a timer to turn the lights on and off, but you will have to adjust the timer as the season progresses, and it gets dark earlier and light later. Of course, temporary lights have to be installed and removed, which means someone gets to climb on a ladder.
If you have a low-voltage LED light system to light your yard, you can probably change the colors of the lights to be more seasonal. You simply adjust the color on your smartphone, and voila, you have holiday lights. You can read more about automatic low-voltage LED light systems in our previous post on them.
Christmas Planter Pots
Christmas plants can if chosen carefully, brighten up the outdoor living area. Putting pots on wheels makes it easier to move them around for your holiday parties. If you have heating, your poinsettias can make a statement in a large pot. You can also use Christmas cacti, which bloom starting a few weeks before Christmas for about six weeks. Neither of these plants are cold hardy. They need to be in a warm environment.
Holly is relatively hardy and has bright red berries. Place holly shrubs near your doorway to greet your guests. These can be inground permanent shrubs or container shrubs brought in just for the holidays. If you plant them in a container, it helps to have the container on wheels so you can move it after the holidays.
We also like to include items like white birch branches, pinecones, and large ornaments to “spruce” up our winter arrangements for our clients.
Wreaths
Another use for holly is to make a seasonal wreath. Many people also use grape vines or willow branches. You can weave the green foliage into a wreath shape and tie it to keep the wreath together. Adding holiday decorations such as Christmas tree balls and lights will make the wreath stand out. Using evergreen boughs can add a nice smell to your wreath. Many people decorate with mistletoe but be careful because the berries are poisonous and may pose a hazard to children and pets.
Christmas Figures
There are a wide variety of Christmas nativity scenes, from tabletop versions to life-size versions for the yard. These can be placed in the backyard for private viewing or in the front yard for everyone to see. Of course, you will want to install temporary low-voltage LED lights to light the nativity scene in the yard. More details on such a system are mentioned above.
Winter Seasonal Figures
Driving around Kansas City, I see lots of inflatable Santas, reindeer, snowmen, and other winter figures. If you want to use these, be sure to anchor them well, so winter storms don’t send them bounding down the road. You will also want to light these figures so everyone can enjoy them. There are a wide variety of these figures available from big box stores.
Happy Holidays
We at Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping want to wish you Happy Holidays. We hope you get to enjoy some time with your family decorating and making your winter wonderland a special place together. If you need help with any projects, please don’t hesitate to reach out, We do installations of hardscapes, patios, and lights during the winter, and design many other projects for implementation in the spring. Schedule a consultation today, so we can help you design a landscape that meets your needs.
You might think that since Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping is a landscape design and construction company that winter is our down season. We actually do keep busy in the winter. In fact, we are running the following special for winter.
From now through Dec. 15th, any new installation contracts will receive a 5% discount if the contract is signed by the 15th. Any new design contracts will receive a 25% discount through Dec 15th. Use discount code “Winter Work” when you schedule your consultation.
Here are some of the types of projects that we work on in the winter.
Hardscape Installs
Winter is a good time to install hardscapes. As long as we have dug out the foundation before the ground freezes, we can still build retaining walls and paver patios in the off-season. These are items that do not require pouring concrete, so as long as it is warm enough for the Blue Crew to work, we can do it. Most of our hardscape installations are considered a flexible installation and are set on a base of open-graded aggregate. We have found that this method works best for drainage, compaction, and settling. If the temperature is above freezing for several days, we can even pour concrete for patios, sidewalks, and bases to set stone on.
Landscape Lighting
Landscape lighting is another activity that is not dependent on warm temperatures. As long as we have dug the ditches for the wires before it freezes, we can put in lighting wherever you want it. For some great ideas for what type of lighting to put in, see our articles on lighting innovations for 2022 and automatic low-voltage LED lighting systems.
If you have an existing lighting system, now is a great time to update it. We can swap out fixtures, re-aim lights, and add more lighting fixtures to your outdoor living area. Since the sun sets so early, you can really see the areas that need more light or other help.
Planning Projects for Spring
Everyone thinks of new projects in spring when the growing season starts. However, new projects take time to plan, and our spring schedule fills up quickly with overflow from the previous year’s projects and the rush of new projects that come in with warmer weather. We typically can get booked out between 8-12 weeks once spring arrives. Now is one of the best times to plan a new project. In addition to having time to think about what new features you want and work with us to design them, planning now lets you schedule yourself on our project calendar. The sooner you do that, the sooner we can build your new features. Our project calendar is already filling up, so contact us to get an early slot.
Remember to claim your discount of 5% for new installation contracts or 25% discount for new design contracts through Dec 15th. Please share with friends or family who may be interested in sprucing up their property. Use discount code “Winter Work” when you schedule your consultation.
