While it may be hard to believe that springtime is just around the corner, it will be here before you know it. There is no better feeling than sitting outside on the first warm day, enjoying your well-maintained garden and pristine landscaping. Whether you outsource your spring clean-up or prefer to get your hands dirty, knowing what needs to be done will help ensure your yard receives a thorough clean-up once the ground thaws. Read on for the spring clean-up checklist every homeowner needs.
Remove Yard Waste
Eliminating the refuse from the lawn and planting beds is the first step for your yard’s spring clean-up. This includes removing any litter or pet waste that may have accumulated under the snow, gathering dead leaves, pine cones, grass and debris, as well as cutting back dead leaves from the perennial plants.
The lawn should be thoroughly raked to remove all the dead grass and leaves that accumulated after your fall clean-up. The perennial plants will need to be cut back, and the dead leaves and stalks should be removed with scissors.
Prepare Planting Beds
The soil in the planting or perennial beds could use a refresh, so adding fertilizer or compost to the beds will help improve the soil. Also, remove weeds and any other dead growth remaining on the plants
Planting the Beds
If you’re looking to add additional trees and shrubs, planting them in early spring is the best time to do so. This means you should hire a landscaping company and have a landscaping plan finalized by late winter. Hold on planting the annuals until the last frost for your region. In many areas, Mother’s Day weekend is a safe date to target.
Apply Weed Control
To ideally reduce the number of weeds that grow in your garden and yard during the warmer months, apply a herbicide on the lawn to stop the growth of weeds before they begin growing.
Prune the Shrubs
As the temperatures rise, you can remove any protective coverings from the shrubs and bushes. Assess any winter damage, and remove dead limbs, leaves and debris. To avoid removing the blossoms from flowering shrubs, hold on pruning until the flowers have bloomed. This way you will be sure you’re removing the dead branches.
Mulch the Planting Beds
Before spreading fresh mulch, remove the previous year’s mulch. Adding a layer of fresh mulch will help with weed control, allow the plants and flowers to receive adequate water, and be visually appealing.
Clean the Patio
While your yard may be in pristine condition, you need a space to sit back and enjoy it. Ensure your patio or outdoor living space is in entertaining-ready condition by ensuring the ground, walkways and furniture are cleaned. Depending on the surface of your outdoor living space, sweep away all debris, then powerwash, use a bleach mixture or hose down the surface. Even if your furniture was in storage during the winter months, it likely still needs a thorough cleaning.
