10 Steps to Your Best Summer Yard

Spring has sprung and it’s officially time to stretch your legs, step outside, and refamiliarize yourself with the intricacies of your outdoor spaces.  Even during mild winters, the wind blows, soil shifts, and your landscape can experience everything from flooding to debris coverage to erosion. To repair your yard from winter damage and maximize your space for the warmer seasons of sun and fun, take advantage of warmer spring weather to check off these 10 steps to your best summer yard.  

• Take a walk and scope things out. Spring is a wonderful time of year to reacquaint yourself with your yard. Throughout the winter, elements of your lawn and gardens may change. Walk your property and look for new growths, cleaning opportunities, and how new installations like sidewalks, irrigation, or lighting may improve the environment.

• Make your own categorized to-do list. Your yard is unique and you may notice specific things outside on your walk that you’d like to do accomplish. Add the checklist items reflected here to your list, of course, but also don’t forget the major projects you dreamed about implementing on your walk.  It can be helpful to divide your list into categories. You might put Do It Myself on one side, and Call For Backup on the other, and put tasks in the category that makes the most sense. Many tasks you can quickly accomplish on your own, like picking up light debris. Other larger, more intricate projects like lighting installation, irrigation maintenance, or major landscaping can go a lot faster with professionals taking the lead, so plan accordingly and please call for help when you need it!

• Prune. You’ll notice new life budding at the end of winter and then fully flourishing with the spring. From flowers to bushes to trees, pruning gets rid of the old, wilted, dying parts of plants and in turn, revives your entire yard. Check out our pruning guide to find out how to get the most life out of your plants, including second and third blooms on your flowers.

• Clean up. It may not be the most glamorous step, but we all know it has to happen. Put on some old shoes and groovy tunes, and check off those basic spring cleaning tasks like collecting left-over leaves, picking up sticks, and bagging pet refuse. If you see any hazardous materials, large branches hanging precariously, or visible diseased or poisonous plants, it is always better to Call For Backup and not compromise your safety or the safety of your family and neighbors.

• Grow and mow your lawn. Now is a good time to plant new grass, fertilize, and finally begin a more regular mowing routine. Don’t forget to plan a watering routine, too, by installing a time- and water-saving irrigation system to get the most beautiful lawn on the block!

• Install, repair, and prepare your garden beds. Whether you’re a flower lover or a small-scale vegetable farmer, spring is the time to install or repair your beds, enrich the soil with compost or chemical nutrients, and order any seeds and plants you need.

• Plant flowers. This step is pretty self-explanatory, but can be daunting nonetheless. Consider your climate zone, local favorites, and unique colors when planting flowers, and don’t forget to prune flowers past their prime for fresh growth!

1. Refresh mulch. There are so many benefits to mulch, like protecting plants as they grow and saving your soil from erosion. Lay fresh mulch where levels are low, and look for additional spots where mulch could improve the condition of the environment such as around bushes and trees, or to protect new growth.

• Install or service your sprinkler system. If you don’t have a good sprinkler system with energy-efficient timers, you’re missing out. Irrigation systems are programmable to be effective, but also save you water and money while beautifying your lawn. Get the most out of your irrigation system by having it serviced regularly, including a professional spring maintenance check up to repair winter damage such as broken heads or water lines, as well as to optimize water pressure and timers for maximum absorption and efficiency.

• Control pests. Outsmart common garden pests like aphids and caterpillars with these hacks. Secure vulnerable areas with barriers like screen or lattice, and integrate natural pest deterrents like citronella plants to keep away mosquitos or sage, oregano, and thyme to repel deer.

What do you do to get ready for spring? Call us at Heffner Landscaping if we can help you knock out anything on your Call For Backup list. We’re here to help you get your outdoor spaces ready for the best summer yet. Contact us today!