‘Spring Cleanup’
It’s that wonderful, busy time of year when the birds are chirping, the sun is out, and our yards are desperate for some attention. Oftentimes, it is challenging to know where to start; after all, there is so much that needs to be done. We all struggle with this - even in the landscape industry! Let’s talk about Spring Cleanup.
A great place to start is with a simple cleanup. Clear out the leaves, sticks, and other debris that made its way into the yard over the cold winter months. Rakes are good, especially for getting leaves out of the lawn. However, when getting leaves out of flowerbeds I prefer to use a leaf blower. Insider Tip: Angle the leaf blower slightly more horizontally than normal, this will prevent the mulch from being blown out of the flowerbeds.
Next, you’ll want to prune plants that were damaged during the winter. This may be cutting dead parts out of shrubs, removing dead branches, or cutting back perennials. Many perennials and grasses die back in the winter. In the spring you can cut all the dead parts back to allow the plant to start fresh with new growth. This is also a good time to trim trees; particularly branches that have gotten too close to the roof or are growing downward. Healthy branches should be growing either horizontally or upward.
Mulching is an important next step for preparing your yard for a successful year. Add a layer of fresh mulch on top of the old. This not only looks fresh and clean, it also provides your plants with a layer of protection. Mulch works like an insulator during the hot summer months, which helps keep your plants hydrated. A proper layer of mulch also helps with controlling weeds. Most weeds need dirt to grow, so installing a thick layer of mulch will help prevent weeds from invading your flower beds. Insider Tip: Don’t remove your old mulch, it is designed to work as a fertilizer as it breaks down.
Next, you’re going to want to call your landscape professionals out to do an irrigation check. This is very important as warmer days are approaching and you want to make sure your irrigation system is working properly. If an irrigation system wasn’t properly winterized, water can sit in the pipes even after the system was turned off. When this happens, the water can freeze, which causes the pipes to break. You also want to make sure there are no holes in drip systems or broken sprinkler heads. Irrigation technicians can also set the system to water at the right time of day, for the appropriate amount of time, and at just the right frequency.
Lastly, it is important to treat your lawn with pre-emergent herbicides. This is an important step for weed control. Pre-emergent herbicides target the seeds of weeds and chemically disrupt them from taking root. The best way to get the upper hand on weeds is attacking them before they even show up! This is why timing is very important; you will want to apply the pre-emergent herbicide before the weeds appear in the spring. Pre-emergent herbicides have proven to be a successful way to have a healthy, luscious lawn.
Now that the spring cleanup is complete, you may feel a huge wave of relief. Or, you may feel like there’s still something missing in your yard. If that’s the case, I would recommend calling Landmark Landscape Group to come out and take a look. Maybe you need an expert’s opinion on a specific area or a professional design for an outdoor living space. Spring is the perfect time to make changes to your landscape that you can enjoy all year!
About the Author
Jennah Smitherman
Jennah is a Texas A&M University graduate with a degree in Urban Planning and Horticulture. She is a Landscape Designer at Landmark Landscape Group in College Station, TX, where she finds joy in designing outdoor spaces that are both functional and beautiful. She loves working with clients and tailoring designs to fit their specific needs.