Ah, spring. It’s about time to hang up your coat for good, don your gardening gloves, and get to work planting your garden. But hang on! There are a few things to do in preparation for the spring landscaping you’ve been so anxiously awaiting. By following a few simple (but very helpful) landscaping tips, you’re ensuring your lawn, plants, and outdoor spaces are as healthy as possible through spring and summer. Ready to create a lush, vibrant yard? Take the first steps with this professional landscaping advice!
Clean Up Your Yard
Winter can make quite a mess. Leaves, branches, and plenty of other debris have likely made themselves at home over the last few months, so it’s good to begin your spring landscaping efforts by clearing it all out. Here’s what you can do:
- Rake up the remaining leaves and thatch. This improves airflow in your lawn and encourages new grass growth.
- Remove fallen branches and debris. Not only is this stuff unsightly, but it could harbor unwanted pests.
- Clear out your flower beds and garden areas to allow room for new growth!
Inspect and Prepare Your Lawn
Proper preparation is key in creating and maintaining a healthy lawn! Just as you should clean a surface before painting it, the concept here is similar. Check all your grassy areas for potential damage and do what you need to do in order to revive it. Find a bare spot? Reseed it! Come across a suspicious hole? Fill it in! Once that’s done, fertilize the area with a balanced product that will provide essential nutrients.
Refresh Your Garden Beds
Get your garden ready for the beautiful flowers or delicious vegetables you have planned for it. Revitalization of its foundation can be done through just a few simple actions:
- Create a blank slate by removing all the old mulch and weeds.
- Prune damages or dead branches from perennials and shrubs. This not only eliminates the less sightly portions of your garden, but it promotes healthy new growth!
- Add a new layer of mulch in order to retain moisture and suppress unwanted weeds.
Plan and Plant New Flowers or Shrubs
Spring is a great time to introduce new plants into your yard or garden! Keep in mind the climate and condition of your soil, as certain plants will thrive more than others. If you want to support local wildlife, consider planting pollinator-friendly plants like conflowers, lavender, and bee balm. If you want your garden to truly stand out from the neighbors’ gardens, layer your plants by height and color to create a striking aesthetic!
Check and Maintain Irrigation Systems
Without a proper supply of water, your plants probably won’t do very well. If you prefer to keep it old school and water everything manually, make sure you set schedules and reminders to ensure you don’t miss any waterings. If you have an irrigation system in place, here’s what you can do before the heat of summer arrives:
- Inspect all of your sprinkler heads to make sure there’s no damage or clogging. If any parts are broken, replace them as soon as possible.
- Adjust your watering schedule to account for seasonal rainfall and the needs of your plants. Additionally, respond accordingly if your area receives heavy rain.
- Test your soaker hoses and drip irrigation to make sure they’re properly efficient.
Give Trees and Shrubs Some Care
Trees and shrubs are a valuable part of your overall landscape. They provide aesthetic appeal, privacy, and homes for local birds! There are a few things you can do to encourage their healthy growth, like pruning overgrown branches. Think of it as a hair trim that keeps everything looking tidy. Additionally, you should remove dead or diseased limbs outright so the decay doesn’t spread. If you apply mulch around tree and shrub bases, you can help them retain moisture and regulate the temperature of the soil in the area.
Hardscape Maintenance
Your outdoor living spaces are just as important as the landscaping itself! Patios, walkways, and decks should be included in your spring landscaping prep. Here’s how you can clean and maintain them:
- To remove dirt and algae, sweep and power wash your deck, patio, and walkways.
- Notice any cracks or damage in stone, brick, or concrete? Repair them before they become bigger problems.
- Refresh your gravel pathways with fresh gravel.
Final Touches for Curb Appeal
Now all that’s left is the little details. They may seem insignificant, but it makes a noticeable difference when minor repairs are made across your whole property. Start by edging your lawn along the sidewalk, driveway, and other areas where it needs it. It’ll give it a nice finished look that tells the neighbors you’re putting effort into landscape maintenance. In addition, you can add decorative elements to your garden that will freshen it up and add some flair! Garden lighting, planters, bird baths, or garden wall enhancements can give your garden that visual appeal you’ve been missing in seasons past!
Kick Your Spring Landscaping Into Gear
The warm weather is knocking, and we know your green thumb has been itching to dig into the dirt and get a little more in tune with nature after a cold winter. With these landscaping tips, your garden and lawn will be right as rain (in time for the rain).
Need some quality materials for your garden or hardscape? At RELS, we have plenty of soil, mulch, decorative stone, and more for DIY and professional landscaping projects alike. Give us a call or pay us a visit and we’ll provide the supplies you need for your spring landscaping to thrive!