Maintaining Hardscapes During Freeze-Thaw Cycles

Maintaining Hardscapes During Freeze-Thaw Cycles
Hardscapes are the general term used to describe any non-living garden fixtures. They can include patios, walkways, retaining walls, fountains, and more. Winter brings seasonal changes that can affect the garden and any hardscapes you might have. Improperly maintaining hardscapes during freeze-thaw cycles can cause much damage from the cold. Here’s how to protect your garden elements during the harsh winter months with these hardscape maintenance tips.

Maintaining Hardscapes During Freeze-Thaw Cycles

What Are Hardscapes?

Hardscapes are broadly defined as any non-living garden fixture, anything that stands still that isn’t a plant. Garden hardscape elements bring aesthetic appeal to the garden and can be a focal point in winter. Here are a few examples:
  • Walkways
  • Patios
  • Fountains
  • Statues
  • Bridges

Preventing Damage and Injury by Maintaining Hardscapes During Freeze-Thaw Cycles

Maintenance can prevent damage and serious injury. You must protect hardscape surfaces to prevent water damage from snow and ice. This means sealing cracks and repairing damage, which counts for most hardscapes around the garden.
When unmaintained, hardscapes can degrade or decay and might even present with additional injury risks. Hardscapes are as essential to maintain as anything else around the house or garden!
Improperly maintained walkways and patios are dangerous. Structural issues can create a slipping risk or even cause a collapse if people don’t fix them.
Take steps to prevent ice from forming on walkways and ensure you can clean or channel water away safely. Winter brings more than concerns about stormy weather.
Hardscapes during winter shouldn’t become more dangerous, but they often do.

Close Up Any Cracks

Cracks can appear from normal wear and tear. Start by closing up any cracks, including damage to the walkway and patio. Cracks are an entry point for further damage—and might be a serious risk for slipping when the surface becomes icy or uneven.
The same goes for wall cracks. Cracked walls can become structurally unsafe or lead to mold and mildew where you don’t want it.
Close up any cracks, and you have a safer walkway—and a more durable hardscape.

Seal Patios and Walkways

Water damage is the worst when wood or concrete is left unsealed. Seal up areas where water can pool or ice is likely to melt. Apply proper sealant to patios and walkways before the ice forms; this allows water to run off once the ice melts.
Specific sealants are available to be used on concrete surfaces or hardscapes. The goal, however, is the same: sealing prevents potential damage, especially from ice or water. You might have to reapply a sealant over time because it can wear off.
Opt for a plastic shovel with a rubber blade when shoveling your patio. Avoid a metal shovel because it can scrape or crack your walkway during snow removal.

Keep the Salt Nearby

Driveways and walkways can be de-iced by using salt.
However, you shouldn’t apply the de-icer where the salt can seep into the soil. This can create serious problems for the garden and might kill off lawn or plant growth when that’s not your intention.
Use salt to de-ice driveways and walkways, but remember to avoid doing this anywhere near plant growth. Choose de-icing products specifically designed for your hardscape material to prevent damage.

Stopping Wall Damage

Hardscapes include walls, which might crack or shatter from constant temperature changes. Regularly remove snow and ice from your hardscape features and monitor closely. Seal walls against potential water damage, just as you’d seal your walkways.
Close up small cracks before they turn into craters. Fix any structural issues in the wall before they have a chance to become an injury risk during the winter.
Watch out for water pooling at the base, which can “wet” unsealed concrete and promote mold growth.
People must maintain walls to preserve their structural integrity; they aren’t just for aesthetics.

Installing Drainage

Almost all gardens can benefit from a clever drainage system. Once ice turns to water, this helps to direct the flow towards a drainage system. A drainage system discourages water from pooling or flowing straight to any hardscape feature. It can also reduce the slipping risk on an important walkway.
Drainage systems are cheap to install and take much of the fuss (and flowing water!) away from taking care of your hardscapes.
If installing a drain seems like too much work, you can also use walkways to create a channel directing water away.
SOLMAUNA Creations & Landscaping Designs in Colorado
Our team of landscape designers brings a unique combination of landscape architecture education paired with extensive knowledge of plants to the table. Contact us today.

Maintaining Hardscapes During Freeze-Thaw Cycles

Maintaining Hardscapes During Freeze-Thaw Cycles
Hardscapes are the general term used to describe any non-living garden fixtures. They can include patios, walkways, retaining walls, fountains, and more. Winter brings seasonal changes that can affect the garden and any hardscapes you might have. Improperly maintaining hardscapes during freeze-thaw cycles can cause much damage from the cold. Here’s how to protect your garden elements during the harsh winter months with these hardscape maintenance tips.

Maintaining Hardscapes During Freeze-Thaw Cycles

What Are Hardscapes?

Hardscapes are broadly defined as any non-living garden fixture, anything that stands still that isn’t a plant. Garden hardscape elements bring aesthetic appeal to the garden and can be a focal point in winter. Here are a few examples:
  • Walkways
  • Patios
  • Fountains
  • Statues
  • Bridges

Preventing Damage and Injury by Maintaining Hardscapes During Freeze-Thaw Cycles

Maintenance can prevent damage and serious injury. You must protect hardscape surfaces to prevent water damage from snow and ice. This means sealing cracks and repairing damage, which counts for most hardscapes around the garden.
When unmaintained, hardscapes can degrade or decay and might even present with additional injury risks. Hardscapes are as essential to maintain as anything else around the house or garden!
Improperly maintained walkways and patios are dangerous. Structural issues can create a slipping risk or even cause a collapse if people don’t fix them.
Take steps to prevent ice from forming on walkways and ensure you can clean or channel water away safely. Winter brings more than concerns about stormy weather.
Hardscapes during winter shouldn’t become more dangerous, but they often do.

Close Up Any Cracks

Cracks can appear from normal wear and tear. Start by closing up any cracks, including damage to the walkway and patio. Cracks are an entry point for further damage—and might be a serious risk for slipping when the surface becomes icy or uneven.
The same goes for wall cracks. Cracked walls can become structurally unsafe or lead to mold and mildew where you don’t want it.
Close up any cracks, and you have a safer walkway—and a more durable hardscape.

Seal Patios and Walkways

Water damage is the worst when wood or concrete is left unsealed. Seal up areas where water can pool or ice is likely to melt. Apply proper sealant to patios and walkways before the ice forms; this allows water to run off once the ice melts.
Specific sealants are available to be used on concrete surfaces or hardscapes. The goal, however, is the same: sealing prevents potential damage, especially from ice or water. You might have to reapply a sealant over time because it can wear off.
Opt for a plastic shovel with a rubber blade when shoveling your patio. Avoid a metal shovel because it can scrape or crack your walkway during snow removal.

Keep the Salt Nearby

Driveways and walkways can be de-iced by using salt.
However, you shouldn’t apply the de-icer where the salt can seep into the soil. This can create serious problems for the garden and might kill off lawn or plant growth when that’s not your intention.
Use salt to de-ice driveways and walkways, but remember to avoid doing this anywhere near plant growth. Choose de-icing products specifically designed for your hardscape material to prevent damage.

Stopping Wall Damage

Hardscapes include walls, which might crack or shatter from constant temperature changes. Regularly remove snow and ice from your hardscape features and monitor closely. Seal walls against potential water damage, just as you’d seal your walkways.
Close up small cracks before they turn into craters. Fix any structural issues in the wall before they have a chance to become an injury risk during the winter.
Watch out for water pooling at the base, which can “wet” unsealed concrete and promote mold growth.
People must maintain walls to preserve their structural integrity; they aren’t just for aesthetics.

Installing Drainage

Almost all gardens can benefit from a clever drainage system. Once ice turns to water, this helps to direct the flow towards a drainage system. A drainage system discourages water from pooling or flowing straight to any hardscape feature. It can also reduce the slipping risk on an important walkway.
Drainage systems are cheap to install and take much of the fuss (and flowing water!) away from taking care of your hardscapes.
If installing a drain seems like too much work, you can also use walkways to create a channel directing water away.
SOLMAUNA Creations & Landscaping Designs in Colorado
Our team of landscape designers brings a unique combination of landscape architecture education paired with extensive knowledge of plants to the table. Contact us today.