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4 Walls Library - Spring Landscape Maintenance Tips

Now that the weather is warming up, you want to get out and enjoy your yard. The snow may be gone but nothing outside looks as good as it did last summer. That is to be expected with a winter of drastic temperature fluctuations, record snowfall, ice and rain. Your lawn and landscaping need a little help to spring back to the beautiful yard you remember, one that gives you pride and satisfaction.

  • Cleaning Up Debris - involves removing all the debris that has accumulated over the winter.
    • Natural debris includes sticks, twigs, pine cones and leaves that fell after you cleaned the yard last fall.
    • Other debris - may involve sand from city plows or clumps of dirt that were uprooted due to shoveling.
  • Pruning Your Shrubs - depends on what you are trying to accomplish, either routine pruning or to rejuvenate overgrown shrubs.
    • Routine pruning should follow the shrubs' blooming habits. For shrubs that bloom in the summer or fall on the current year's growth, you want to prune in winter. If the shrubs bloom in spring from last year's growth, then you should wait to prune until this years blooms begin to die.
    • When you need to rejuvenate flowering shrubs, the best time to prune is late winter or early spring. This will reduce or eliminate spring blossoms this year but you will get healthier, more vigorous plants for your effort.
    • Don't forget to check your trees for broken and dead branches which you'll want to remove.
  • Clearing Mulch - used for winter protection is based on your weather. As the ground thaws, you want to remove the mulch over your perennial flowers so they can breathe. Once they have pushed up (so you know where they are), you can re-apply mulch around them to suppress the weeds.
  • Mowing the Lawn - comes next, once all the debris has been cleared. A bagger or collection system will help pick up any debris you missed earlier. You will also want to trim areas the mower will not get, using a line trimmer or hand shears. This includes cleaning up your lawn edges along walkways and flower beds which add to their appeal.
  • Apply Fertilizers - helps all of your landscaping grow thicker and stronger.
    • Older trees will create vigorous new growth, including a thicker leaf canopy. The foliage will also display a richer color as the result of the application of tree fertilizer.
    • Lawn fertilizer depends on where you live and the type of grass you have. You can discuss with the experts at your local garden center or research this topic online. A good article, Tips for Growing Green Lawns at about.com is a good place to start.
  • Clearing Hard Surfaces - will complete your spring landscape maintenance chores. You can sweep these surfaces (decks, patios, walkways and your driveway) or use a leaf blower to speed the job up. You want to remove any clippings that found their way onto these surfaces during your hard work above.
After you get your lawn off to the right start, you want to create the boldness that every neighbor envies. Curb appeal is achieved through proper landscaping, a nice touch of color each season and crisp lines that add structure and definition to your homes character. Annual or perennial plantings or flowering shrubs can add color while the addition of a patio, walkway, water feature or landscape lighting can add character and offer more ways to enjoy your outdoor living space. 

To help your landscape reach its full potential, you may want to consider a maintenance regiment that includes aerating, over seeding, fertilization of your lawn several times, a spring de-thatching, or the application of mulch in your flower beds or other landscaped areas. Kid safe mulch is available for play areas and under swing sets.

While everyone enjoys getting outdoors once the weather warms up, you may want to enjoy this time playing with your children or relaxing with friends. Why not pick those chores you enjoy doing, and let a professional landscaper tackle the others, to give yourself the leisure time you deserve. 

Susan Wade is co-owner of Wade Landscaping & Property Maintenance LLC, along with her husband Brian. They offer a full compliment of landscaping and winter maintenance services, and pride themselves on delivering "old fashioned customer service." Copyright © 2008 by 4 Walls 1 Roof LLC.




 
   

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