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Think Spring!

It’s not too late to get that yard ready! And I’m not just talking about mowing the overgrown grass. There are important steps to take to ensure that your lawn is properly cared, even during the early months before summer.

Step 1: Get Out That Rake

Don’t start up that lawn mower just yet! The first thing you need to do is go over your entire yard with a rake. This doesn’t mean scanning the yard with your eyes looking for leftover fall leaves or bits of trash. Go over every inch raking deep enough to get rid of all:
   • dead grass
   • thatch build-up
   • leaves
   • trash
   • matted grass
   • pine needles and pine cones

Step 2: Start Up The Lawn Mower

Okay, now that you’ve cleaned up the yard, you are ready to give the yard a nice cut. Hopefully, you’ve already had a tune-up so that your mower is in good running condition. Use your trimmer to get to hard to reach places, such as trees, fences, flower beds and edge up along curbs, driveways and sidewalks.

Step 3: Treat Your Grass

A s you were raking, you probably noticed specific things that may not be healthy for your lawn and may also be detracting from the look of it. If necessary, treat and care for trouble spots:
   • weeds, crabgrass – pull weeds at
     roots and use weed killer to
     prevent re-growth
   • mossy areas – apply lime and/or
     aerate lawn
   • bald spots – add seeds and
     fertilizer

If your grass is already in tip-top shape, you may want to apply a light chemical fertilizer, compost or simply use a mulching lawn mower.

Step 4: Prune Those Bushes, Hedges and Trees

Depending on the type of bushes, hedges and trees you have, it may be important to prune them to facilitate a lush growth. Keeping your bushes neat and trim will not only make your yard look better, but will keep the bushes healthy. Check a care guide for your particular plants to see when and how to prune.

Step 5: Plant Flowers To Add Color

Planting flowers is not only fun but also it can make a world of difference to an otherwise boring yard.

If you have perennials already planted, be sure to remove any landscaping mulch so that the new flowers have a chance to pop through. Leaving heavy layers of mulch on top may damage your flowers or prevent their growth. Once your flowers have pushed through the dirt, you can reapply the mulch around the flowers.

If you want to plant new flowers, you have a choice between perennials or annuals. Annuals do not tolerate cold weather and frost, so be sure to plant these in warmer weather. Some perennials, on the other hand, come up year after year and are much more hardy than annuals. They can often be plenty in the early spring.