A Seasonal Landscape Guide: Spring Landscape Maintenance:

Spring is the season that all outdoors-fans love the most. Not only do the days get brighter and longer, but flowers begin to bloom too! However, while natural beauty will always find a way to be beautiful, it is crucial that you do not forget about the landscape maintenance tasks that must be carried out every spring to keep your garden looking its best!

Remove the Debris. 

Autumn and Winter often wreak havoc on natural landscapes and gardens. Leaves fall, plants wither, and pine needles begin to litter the floor. As a result, the first and foremost task as part of a spring yard clean-up is to remove refuse, including dead leaves, twigs, and litter, from the yard and planting beds. 

You should: 

• Rake leaves, sticks, and pine needles to control thatch buildup.
• Mow and edge your lawn 
• Trim bushes/plants, and trees. For example, you should prune winterkill on branches and dead limbs, to ward off diseases and improve the overall aesthetics. 
• Jetwash drives and pathways 
• Clean and repaint garden furniture

Mow the Grass.

Once you’ve removed debris from your garden, its time to mow the grass. Spring is the perfect time to carry out this activity as “this will stimulate the grass to grow and encourage it to thicken up, helping to keep out weeds and moss.” This activity will also give you the chance to see how much space you are working with, or redefine the borders of your lawn. If any areas are damaged, you can then plant and re-seed ahead of time. 

Prepare Planting Beds.

Once you’ve decided on which plants you want to add to your yard this year, its time to think about preparing your planting beds. To begin, you should remove any weeds from your planting beds or yard. It helps to manage weeds such as crabgrass before they emerge using landscape fabric, mulch, and herbicides, so that they will not interfere with the rest of your gardening tasks. 

Once the ground begins to thaw, check if your perennials are pushing up. Remove the mulch and reapply it once the plants grow a few inches to prevent the growth of weeds.

It goes without saying that plants need to be well-watered in order to thrive. As a result, installing an irrigation system is key to ensuring your outdoor spaces thrive this year. This is because it ensures that all plants/flowers receive an adequate amount of water - a useful task in areas where we cannot rely on consistent rainfall and experience plenty of heat.

Once you’ve followed the steps above, its time to plant the seeds in the prepared flower beds and lawns. Early Spring (March-April), is the best time to plant shrubs, trees and perennials due to the weather conditions at this time. 

Fertilize the soil. 

If you want your outdoor spaces to look fantastic all year round, you need to ensure your plants are placed or sewn in fertile soil. This is because “fertile soil provides essential nutrients for plant growth”, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium. While each nutrient is important, potassium is integral to plant life, as it “is associated with the movement of water, nutrients and carbohydrates in plant tissue.” As such, now is the perfect time to purchase fertilizer and use it in your outdoor spaces.

Aeration. 

If you are using the spring season as an excuse to get planting, you’re probably already aware of the benefits of aeration. For those unfamiliar, aeration is the practice of making small holes in the soil, which “allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots. This helps the roots grow deeply and produce a stronger, more vigorous lawn.” Not only will this make your outdoor space look nicer, but some studies have also found that it can actually improve the air quality in your garden too! 

Pest Control.

Regardless as to whether or not you are planning a spring-time garden party, you likely do not want any rodents or pests turning up on your doorstep. However, the rising temperatures create the perfect environments for all kinds of outdoor pests, meaning you need to take preventative measures to keep them away from your home. For example, you could use pesticides in your garden, though you should ensure you stay away from harsh chemicals that could harm your plants. 

Start New Landscape Construction Projects.

Whether you’re planning on building a greenhouse or an outdoor bar, spring is the perfect time to start working on these projects. This is because the weather conditions are often cool and calm, meaning you won’t get too uncomfortable spending long periods of time outdoors. Furthermore, the sooner you get started on these projects, the sooner you will complete them - meaning they’ll be ready for you to enjoy when Summer rolls around. 

Need Help? Get in touch today!

If you need assistance when it comes to getting your garden, lawn or outdoor space in top shape this spring, please do not hesitate to get in touch! We have years of industry experience and passion for what we do - which means we can work through these maintenance tasks (and more) on your behalf - while you enjoy the rewards!