Spring cleaning often involves clearing out things inside the home, but it can also refer to cleaning up our yards! It will improve the appearance of your garden, but it will also improve the health of your trees, shrubs, and other landscape plants.
As soon as the weather warms up in the spring, your shrubs and trees begin to prepare for their bursts of flowers and new foliage. Clean up your garden, shrubs, and trees in the early spring to make the most of this seasonal display.
If you are struggling with where to start with your spring yard clean-up, here is a checklist to help you.
1. Examine the Hardscape for Winter Damage
If your yard took a beating this winter, it’s time to evaluate the damage. Damage can range from dead branches to broken shrub stalks and trunks. Remove damaged wood, and discard it.
If your shrubs suffered damage from the winter, it’s time to clean up. Remove any damaged branches and cut them back to the base. If a shrub is damaged beyond repair, remove it and replace it with something new.
Similarly, trees can suffer damage in the winter. Look for broken or downed branches, especially when the sap is flowing in the spring. If a tree takes a hard hit, remove the damaged components and cut them back to the trunk.
2. Remove Plants from Around Your Trees
You can do a lot of damage to a tree by placing potted plants too close to its base. A mulch ring creates a nice enclosure that protects the root zone, but it also can cause problems if you place it too close to the trunk.
Also, if a potted plant is placed too close to a tree, the tree’s roots can become wrapped around the root of the other plant. This extra layer of roots will slow down the tree’s growth, as it is now competing with the plant for nutrients and water.
3. Debris Should Be Raked Up
After the winter, you’ll find leaves covering your lawn and under the shrubs. It’s time to rake them up and mulch them. The mulch can be added to your compost pile, or you can use it to re-mulch the area where you removed the leaves.
Moreover, you’ll find a lot of debris left behind by the winter, such as twigs, thatch, and other plant matter. Mow the lawn, and remove this material.
4. Clean Up the Weeds and Excess Grass
If you’re having trouble getting your lawn to grow in a particular area, it could be because you have a weed problem. You shouldn’t have to have a weed problem in your backyard! You should have your lawn in good shape by spring, with only the occasional weed to pull.
5. Inspect Fences and Gates
If you have a fence or gate that has been damaged by the winter weather, now is the time to do some repairs. You don’t want the stress of an icy wall melting down on you!
Conclusion
Spring cleaning doesn’t have to happen just in your home! Making sure your yard is in top shape will be well spent. You’ll have a beautiful lawn and garden to enjoy, and you won’t have to worry about any damage that winter can do.
If you are having trouble doing all the work yourself, you can contact professionals or some tree trimmers in St Augustine to help you. Ancient City Arbor provides 100% customer satisfaction with our experienced and professional tree trimming and removal. Call us @ (904) 669-8460 for all your tree service needs.