Spring is in the air, so it's time to take stock of your yard and do some cleanup. From shrubs to perennials to your concrete patio, give your landscaping a clean start as we enter a new season.
1. Trees and Shrubs
Prune away dead and damaged branches to prevent your trees and shrubs from developing a thick outer layer of growth that prohibits sunlight and air to reach the branch's center. Keep your evergreens looking their best by trimming back to a branch whose direction you want to encourage.
2. Perennials and Grasses
Prune your flowering perennials to a height of 4-5 inches and ornamental grasses to 2-3 inches to allow new growth to shoot up. To thin a crowded bed of perennials such as daylilies or hostas, dig up the clump, divide it to leave at least three stems and transplant it to fill in a sparse area.
3. Flower Beds and Borders
Clean up around your plants by raking out fallen leaves and dead foliage and pulling up spent annuals. Replace or fill in mulch, and replant or reposition the plants in your flower beds and borders. Give your beds a clean edge with a square-head shovel to keep turf grass from growing into them.
4. Lawn Care
Prep damaged areas of your lawn for spring seeding. Use a square metal rake to remove dead grass or turf damaged by salt, plows or disease. If you haven't already, make a plan for your first fertilizer treatment of the year.
5. Paths and Patios
Neaten up your hardscape surfaces by raking escaped gravel back into walkways and patios. If pavers have been heaved out of place by the freeze-thaw cycle, remove them and replenish the base material before setting pavers back in. Remove algae spots or leaf stains from your patios and walkways.
6. Fences and Trellises
Freshen up worn wood on your trellises or fencing. Remove and replace rotted or damaged pickets and boards. Stain or apply a new coat of paint to faded wood.
