Getting Ready for Spring

If you live in a colder climate, spring can bring the excitement of getting outdoors, enjoying warmer weather, and seeing the yard and landscape come to life. Below is a checklist to help you get your yard in shape for spring.

Inspect your trees and shrubs. Start your spring spruce-up with a thorough inspection of your yard. Look for any branches that might be broken or damaged and prune them or have them removed by a professional.

Test your soil. Test your soil once every few years to make sure it has the proper pH balance and mix of nutrients. You can usually get your soil tested at your state’s local agricultural extension office, or ask your lawn care or landscape professional. You can also buy soil test kits at garden centers.

Fertilize. The decision about whether or not to fertilize should be based on the nutrition requirements of your plant as well as soil conditions. Below are a few tips on fertilizing your lawn:

Determine your soil nutrient needs through testing.
If your soil does need nutrients, make sure you choose a fertilizer that matches those needs.

Make sure you fertilize at the optimum time of the year for your variety of grass. Contrary to popular belief, not all grasses should be fertilized in spring. A few cool-season grass varieties do better when fertilized in fall. June is also a good time to fertilize many cool-season grasses. It’s best to use your state university or cooperative extension’s recommendations or consult a lawn care professional.

In general, it is best to choose a “slow-release or controlled-release” fertilizer to reduce possible losses to the environment and increase nutrient absorption. In certain situations, it may help to use organic materials which can improve the health of your soil.

It’s important to read the label on the fertilizer bag and to know the exact size of your lawn. Using too much fertilizer can harm your lawn and cost you more than you planned. Conversely, using too little fertilizer won’t yield the results anticipated. Several university studies show that under-fertilized turf can lead to a thin turf stand resulting in soil erosion and unwanted soil runoff.

Always follow the label instructions.

Before fertilizing your lawn or plants, always check with the local agricultural extension office. Some state and local governments place limits on when, what kind, and what amount of fertilizer you can apply. Professional, licensed lawn care companies must follow state, local, and federal regulations.

Weed Control. Spring is a good time to apply pre-emergent weed control for weeds such as crabgrass. One indicator is when forsythia is in full bloom, which tells you it is usually the perfect time to apply crabgrass weed preventer.

Make planting beds neat and tidy. Rake the old leaves and debris, from plant beds, prune any dead branches and create neat edges around the beds using an edging tool.

Fertilize trees and Shrubs. Most plants, trees, and shrubs will benefit from proper
fertilization with a slow-release product just before mulch is applied.

Mulch. Add an inch thick layer of fresh mulch in plant beds and around trees. Don’t let the mulch touch the tree trunk and never let the mulch accumulate to more than a 3″ depth. Mulch not only makes planting areas look neat, but also helps to retain moisture in the soil, and it keeps the roots cool in the summer and insulates them in the winter. As mulch decomposes, it adds organic matter to the soil.
Inspect your irrigation system. Once the weather has warmed up for the year, turn on your irrigation system and inspect it to see if it is in working condition. If you have a landscape company, they can do this for you.

Check outdoor lighting. Check your outdoor lights for broken fixtures and have them repaired if there is damage. Reset timers when Daylight Savings time begins.