A spring clean up for the inside of your home can mean different things to different people. To some it is as light as cleaning off the patio and the grill and to those Martha Stewart enthusiasts it can be so so much more…washing curtains, emptying cabinets and giving them a thorough wash and possibly even power washing the roof. Everyone’s need are different.
The same can be said for a landscape but there are some things that absolutely need to be accomplished. First removing any branches, sticks and leaves from the property. Doing a good fall clean up can help make this an easier task, but it still needs to be done.
You also want to cut back any Hydrangeas, grasses or perennials that were left in tact for winter interest to make room for new growth.
At this time we also like to cultivate, edge and fertilize the beds with a product that also contains pre-emergent (to help keep down those nasty weeds). This function can prove difficult in Spring and sometimes needs to be chipped away it because of Spring’s wet conditions.
Next is turf. It is important to be gentle with turf in Spring, again those wet conditions can make situations worse by tearing it. That being said we rake wherever possible to pull up dead grass and snow mold, then topdress with a combination of grass seed and peat moss.
Activating your irrigation system is equally important, making any necessary adjustments. But we tend to turn systems off when turned on in early Spring. Running them only aggravates already wet conditions, which can encourage turf fungus and other problems.
Once all of that is complete and all your hardsurface areas are cleaned and tidy, your landscape is ready for the season.