Spring cleaning is not limited to simply working inside your home! Spring yard cleanup is essential to have that lush lawn and enhanced curb appeal you desire for the year.
Cleanup, of course, lends itself to mean the actual removal of debris but also means taking a hard look at your lawn to see what damage was done over winter, what steps need to be taken to prepare for the year ahead, and making a plan for any changes.
Aesthetically Pleasing
Photo Credit: Flynnside Out Productions
Perhaps this is the most obvious reason why spring yard cleanup is essential, but it stands that a tidy yard is a visually pleasing yard! Removing debris accumulated from the winter months, the litter left by passing litterbugs, pet waste, and pruning back branches deadened over the winter will set your lawn up to be bright and shiny for the spring and summer seasons. Have some annuals that need removing? Spring is an excellent time to take a look at your flower beds and relocate plants to even out spacing in the garden.
It is also an ideal time to make a list of what you need to fill out bare spots.
Safety
Another seemingly obvious reason for spring yard cleanup that you need to consider is overall safety. Have fallen leaves across your lawn? Is your hardscaping littered with branches? April showers may bring May flowers, but they also bring wet leaves–a dangerous slipping hazard. A yard full of leaves can also hide dips and holes that could cause falls or injuries. Spring cleanup is key in protecting anyone who will be on the property, including beloved pets and possible wildlife!
Unveil Winter Damage and Needed Maintenance
Photo Credit: M. Grabowski, UMN Extension
Even if you raked leaves consistently in the fall, there will be an inevitable layer of fallen leaves and debris come March. By raking leaves in the fall you tried to help prevent “snow mold,” a fungal disease that can massacre your lawn, but now that spring has sprung, a deep raking is necessary once more.
Why, you ask?
A deep raking of your lawn will clear remaining leaves and help control the build up of thatch. Once your yard is cleaned up, it is time to take a step back and see what you are working with. Is there snow mold damage? Do you have holes that need filling or erosion damage from melted snow that needs fixing? Are there sections that need seeding? A clear yard will let you see which branches need to be cut back or removed due to wind, snow, or ice damage and which annuals need to be pulled having not survived the winter.
Early spring is an optimal time for seeding the cool season grasses, such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, and fine fescue, commonly found in the Northeast. It may seem like a lot of work, but putting in the work now will set you up for an easier time when you go to add to and maintain your yard and landscaping this year!
Increase Effectiveness of Fertilizer and Weed Control
Photo Credit: waferboard/Flickr
Spring Yard Cleanup Checklist
Indeed, a spring cleanup of your yard is essential to show what damage may have already been done and what needs replacing, but what about getting a jumpstart on things yet to come?
A clean yard space will give your fertilizers and weed control methods access to their destinations. This will promote healthy growth for your landscaping and yard while curtailing crabgrass growth before it gets unruly. Prior to spring yard treatment, however, consider aerating your lawn to encourage better root development and promote better water dispersement and air to the soil. Aerating your lawn will also help decompact soil.
Print out this checklist below as you prepare for spring yard cleanup!
- Do a deep raking of your yard
- Clear your yard and landscaping of any debris collected over the winter months
- Level your yard and fill in any holes that you may have uncovered
- Aerate your yard prior to spring treatments
- Fertilize and use pre-emergent crabgrass control
- Examine areas that need work (seeding, pruning, etc.)
There you have it! Now you see why spring yard cleanup is essential to preparing your property for the coming year. A little hard work now and your yard will be the envy of all the neighbors! Have you checked any of these items off the list?
Spring is near! NVS Landscapes offers a number of Landscaping Services in Albany. Contact us using the form below if you’re interested in a quote, or give us a call:
Leave a Reply