Spring is coming soon, which means it’s time to get your yard back in shape after a long winter. Getting your yard looking its best can take some work, but it’s worth it to have lush, green grass, blooming flowers and all plants, and an outdoor space you can really enjoy. Follow this advice to get your yard into pristine condition just in time for the warmer weather.
Do a Thorough Lawn Assessment
Before doing anything else with your yard, take a close look at the current state of your lawn. Check for bare, dead, or thinning patches of grass, so you know where you may need to lay down fresh sod or grass seed. Look for weeds like dandelions that may have cropped up over the winter, so you know which areas need more weed control treatment. Identify any lawn drainage issues that may be causing puddling. Doing this lawn assessment first gives you a plan of action for restoration.
Remove Any Winter Debris
Take a walk around your entire yard and look for any debris that may have accumulated over the winter. Clean up fallen twigs and branches. Pick up any garbage that has blown into your yard over the past few months. Examine all your garden beds and borders and clear out any dead leaves, plants, or other materials. Getting rid of this winter debris leaves you with a blank canvas for spring planting.
Cut Back Shrubs and Bushes
Early spring is an ideal time to do some pruning of overgrown shrubs and bushes in your yard. Cut back any branches that look damaged, diseased, or infested with pests. Give your bushes a nice shaping. Pruning your shrubs not only gives your yard a neater look, but it stimulates healthy new growth as spring gets going. When you cut back spring-flowering shrubs like lilacs and forsythia, time it just right, so you don’t prune off flower buds.
Rake and Loosened Soil Thoroughly
Use a stiff rake to rake up any remaining leaves, debris, or sticks from the winter. I like to go over the lawn in one direction first, then once more perpendicular to the first raking. This helps loosen up the soil, allowing it to better soak in air, water and nutrients once you add things like compost. Raking also removes dead grass to make room for lush, new spring grass. It just leaves your overall lawn and garden beds looking tidy and smoothies.
Repair Bare Lawn Patches
If your yard assessment revealed thinning or bare patches in your lawn, now is the time to repair them, so they fill in nicely. Using a metal rake, thoroughly loosen the soil in the bare patches, removing any compacted soil or debris. Spread fresh grass seed designed for full sun or shade, depending on the patch location. Lightly top dress the reseeded areas with clean topsoil or compost. Water gently every day until new grass fills in.
Lay Down Fresh Mulch
Spreading a fresh layer of mulch over your yard in early spring achieves so many purposes. It inhibits weed growth, retaining yard waste like dried leaves, so they naturally compost, and enriches the soil. Mulch additions once or twice a year will keep your garden beds, trees and shrubs healthy through many seasons. Shredded bark, compost mulch or rubber mulch make great options. To really overhaul your mulch, consider renting a dump trailer, so you can haul many cubic yards of mulch home and spread it easily across your entire landscape.
Start Planting Flowers and Plants
No yard is complete in springtime without gorgeous, colorful flowers and plants. Get a head start on planting your annuals by starting seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before your average last frost date. Focus on hardy annuals like pansies, snapdragons, and petunias that can handle some cold nights. Prepare the soil with compost or fertilizer before moving seedlings outdoors after danger of frost. Herbs like lavender, rosemary, thyme and oregano are also great early plants, along with early perennials like irises, phlox, and poppies.
Getting your yard into tip-top shape each spring does take some work – clearing away winter debris, repairing bare lawn heaven patches, pruning shrubs and trees, mulching, and planting. But making this seasonal investment means you’ll have healthy grass, fabulous flowers, and an eye-catching landscape all spring and summer long for you to enjoy. Follow these tips, and soon you’ll have the pristine yard of your dreams.
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