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8 Spring Cleanup Landscaping Tips

8 Spring Cleanup Landscaping Tips

Spring can be a time of many new possibilities. It can be a beautiful sight to see the landscape turn from a dreary and wintry lawn to a lively paradise. Sometimes, however, it might not be so exciting around your house. There can be leaves strewn about, overgrown shrubbery, and many more different threats to your landscape’s cleanliness. That’s where cleaning for the season comes in.

Cleaning is an essential part of keeping up the beauty in your lawn, and in Spring, it is no exception. It may be a big task, but it’s not impossible. With the right knowledge, you can turn your garden from sleeping beauty to a verdant paradise. Helms is here to help you out by providing guidance and giving you the tools you need to succeed. 

Tip #1: Cleaning up your shrubs

One of the best starting points towards your spring cleaning is trimming because, during the winter, your plants may have been growing or become a tangled mess. It may be intimidating to start cutting down your shrubs, but there are many benefits to pruning. One of these is avoiding property or car damage. The University of Florida, for example, states that pruning may help reduce the risk of branch or tree failure. The same organization mentions that pruning may also provide better car clearance and even improved appearance. 

Trimming is easier than it looks. Many big box stores and hardware stores have a large assortment of scissors and also cutters for larger branches. However, do consider that falling branches may be a hazard. They could fall on you, the children accompanying you, or anyone else. It’s imperative that you take proper safety measures or talk with us to get the help you need to clean your shrubs.

Tip #2: Fertilize Your Garden and Lawn 

After a long month of cold, your plants will likely decide to put out beautiful flowers and leaves after this period. Therefore, your plants will need the right amount of food to keep them going. Fertilizers are organized into organic and inorganic, with each kind having their own advantages and disadvantages. What you use to fertilize your trees and plants is up to your personal preference. There’s no one way that’s the best, but an expert like us can help you find out which route is best for your lawn’s needs.

With each fertilizer, you have different benefits. With organic fertilizers, you have the benefit of helping build the soil fauna. It brings you a healthier soil structure at the cost of not so readily accessible nutrients. Chemical fertilizers can bring plants readily available nutrients that they can absorb quickly and effectively. The most significant disadvantage of using this type of soil amendment is that plants could wilt and die due to applying too much.

Tip #3: Clean Up Your Lawn

The coming of Spring means new growth, which also means having to clean debris from surrounding trees. You may have had issues with storms that caused branches or leaves to fall, littering your lawn with them. It’s important to clean these up, as it can give you some issues with neighbors or maybe even your HOA. It may be intimidating, but we can also give you some advice as to the best way to manage this situation.

A few of the simplest ways to clean up your lawn is by using a rake, blower, or a lawnmower to pick up the leaves. However, this task can be a hassle, as it can take quite a while to pick them up and put them in bags. One way you could dispose of these, however, is creating compost piles or bins. With compost bin creation, you can give your garden an edge and make your organic fertilizer. Yet, it can also take more time and take a chunk out of your day.

Tip #4: Reseeding Damaged Areas Of Your Lawn

With the wear and tear of kids, pedestrians, and animals, your lawn may suffer some trauma due to the traffic. Parts of the yard may be where only weeds are growing. You may also have grass that looks old or is losing vigor. With this in mind, you could invest in seeding your lawn with grass seed again to ensure its beauty. It’s easy and can be better than buying new turf for your lawn.

Some benefits of the practice include having newer, green grass that can stand the tests of time. You may also have turf that isn’t resistant to local weather or is of a varietal that isn’t very nice looking. Yet, even though reseeding damaged parts of your lawn may have many benefits, it is very time consuming and can cause you some headaches. We can help you out if need be. With our expertise, we can provide you with a stunning lawn that can bring out the best in your home or garden.

Tip #5: Amending Your Lawn 

Besides fertilizer, there’s another amendment that’ll give you an edge in your landscaping needs. You may be asking what it may be, and it is nothing other than mulch. The USDA says that by adding mulch, you’ll reduce the need to water your soil, reduce pests, and attract beneficial animals to your garden. Mulching is a simple way to pretty up your lawn. You also need not limit yourself to wood chips, as there are many more options!

Some acceptable sources of mulch include grass clippings, straw, and even plastic. There are benefits and downfalls to each. Plastic, for example, will last for a very long time and is very cheap, but it provides no value to the soil. With grass clippings, bark chips, and other organic mulch, you will need to replace them after some time. This type of mulch will add more nutrients and build up your soil to pristine condition.

Tip #6: Give Your Lawn New Life With Aeration

Lawn aeration is one of the best things you can do with your lawn or garden. This action helps your lawn “breathe” and de-compact the soil. One of the most significant issues when it comes to a sad lawn is a lack of oxygen to the soil, as well as thatch buildup. Thatch buildup is another big threat to a green lawn, as it can prevent air and water from entering the soil. If the thatch buildup and soil compaction are too bad, you may need to do core aeration.

Core aeration is the practice of using hollow tines to create small holes that will aerate the soil. It is better than using solid tines, as the solid tines will not be as effective in creating air pockets that your grass will need. Doing core aeration will help disperse the built-up thatch that won’t let water or air into the lawn. It’ll also help your lawn with getting the fertilizer it needs. It might be intimidating to start this process, but we can help guide you to the right path.

Tip #7: Sprinkler Maintenance During Spring

Another critical part of Spring cleaning is working on your sprinklers. Sprinkler maintenance can be a boon towards keeping your lawn green and healthy. Without yearly sprinkler maintenance, you may encounter issues like sensors not working, blockages in the system, and many other problems. Dry spots are another issue that may cause your lawn to look patchy or not as happy as other parts. Here are some ways you can check how your system is doing.

One of the simplest ways is by taking a look at the backup battery of your controller. The battery may be old or defective and may need replacing. Sprinkler heads, depending on traffic or natural events, may also need a checkup. Make sure to take a look at those as well while cleaning up your lawn for Spring. Misaligned heads may cause those dry spots that could be littering your lawn, too.

Tip #8: Plant New Flowers

One of the best ways to start the season is by checking your garden center for new flowers. With the passing of winter, you might have had some losses when it comes to plants that didn’t make it. With so many different species of plants, it can be difficult to decide on one. Worry not, though, as we’ll help you with some excellent suggestions for your home! Here are a few fantastic plants that can beautify your home. 

One of the most reliable, most resilient shrubs out there is the holly. Fertilizing these plants is a cinch, as they don’t even need to be fed a lot. You will need to prune them, though, as they’re prone to growing fast depending on the kind you get. Another excellent perennial you could try is the rose. It’s a beautiful plant, and though some varieties may be more challenging to keep, some cultivars can withstand the test of time (and surviving in your garden)!

The Bottom Line

With the changing seasons comes a fresh perspective and a new opportunity to grow. It may be challenging to start on your chores with spring cleanup, but it doesn’t have to be. Our trained experts can give you the wisdom, insight, and help you need to have the most beautiful garden on the block! If you’re having trouble, feel free to call us today, and we can work our magic on your yard.

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