It’s about that time again! The time where we go from the dreary winter months to blue skies, blossoming flowers, and the smell of a fresh cut lawn.
In this newsletter I have enclosed tips to a healthy startup for your yard. Some you may already do, and some you may consider to get your property off to a great start this season. As always, I am always capable of handling these items for you, should you need assistance.
Prune back Trees and Shrubs
Prune any dead and damaged growth out of trees and shrubs. Using a pair of hand pruners to do so helps you do this selectively and gives you a nice clean cut where you want it versus hedge trimmers. If the branches are very large in size, consider using a handsaw or pruning saw. For plants such as forsythia, wait until they have finished their spring bloom. With evergreens it is best to prune back to the base of a branch that you wish to encourage growth on.
Ornamental Grasses and Perennial Care
If you did not do it in the fall, cut back any ornamental grasses-cutting back large ones about 6-8” from the ground and smaller ones a few inches from ground level. With perennials, you can cut dead growth off within a few inches of the ground. Some perennials like hostas, you can easily pull dead growth off by hand. This will promote a healthy start giving the plant the room it needs to grow new growth. Now is also a good time to divide perennials that you may consider are overcrowding garden beds. Divide them by leaving several stems per plant. You can use them in other areas of the yard or share with friends, family, or neighbors.
Beds
Clean out any leaves or debris that has gathered in beds over the winter months. This will prevent any plants in the beds from being choked out and not getting the light and water that they need to come up. Add a shovel edge to beds, keeping a distinct border between lawn and beds and apply a new layer of mulch to freshen things up and keep plantings moist through dry summer months.
Lawns
Rake up any damage left by the plow trucks such as sand, pieces of blacktop, and debris. Some plow damage caused to the lawn can often be put back like sod by taking the skinned piece of lawn and tamping it back down by foot. It may appear yellowed, but it’s just from the lack of sunlight-it will come back. Give your lawn a thorough dethatching which will remove the matted areas in your lawn from the winter snow. This will allow for water and air to better penetrate the soil providing for a quicker green-up and overall healthier lawn. Remove any browned areas from the lawn and rake these areas out. Depending upon the soil, you may want to add compost or some topsoil before raking in new seed. Simply even out the new material, spread the seed evenly by hand, and gently tap in with a steel rake.
Driveways, Patios, and Walkways
Rake out any uneven surfaces if any of the areas are aggregate material. Paving stone walks or patios may need new filler added to their joints. Clean these areas first and then sweep in new material, such as sand or polymeric sand into the joints. Sometimes harsh winters can wreak havoc, therefore some pavers may need resetting by removing and adding new base material under them.