The Benefits of a Spring Clean-up for your Landscape

It's SPRING--the time of year when your landscape is on your mind more than ever! You expect to see everything fresh, green, and blooming right about now...but is it? Contrary to what you may expect, your garden is not going to be able to make the transition from winter to spring without a little dirty work on your part. Brian Hammond, our maintenance manager, discusses the importance of a spring clean-up for the health and beauty of your landscape. Each of the steps he outlines below will give your yard the extra help it needs to be healthy and thrive this season into the summer. Edge your beds... Edging delineates the borders of mulch beds to create a clean separation between lawn and mulched areas. Completings this task creates a clean look and helps to prevent grass from encroaching into your mulch beds and vice versa. By keeping areas of your yard--lawn, planting beds, walkways etc.--separate and distinct from each other you will add definition and create the 'cared for' look with less work to maintain it. Prune... At this time of year it is very important to prune shrubs and sucker growth on trees as well as cut back any perennials. Quite simply, the task will restore the natural and intended shapes of your shrubs and other plants. However, more importantly, this chore will remove any damaged or diseased branches and allow for new fuller growth. Want a blooming landscape? Pruning actually stimulates flowering! Apply Pre-emergent... Pre-emergent application is a step completed prior to mulching that helps to keep weed growth to a minimum. The pre-emergent acts as a barrier so weeds cannot germinate. Keep in mind that this process does not ensure a weed-free bed. Weeds will still grow; however, their growth rate will be reduced to a more manageable level. Fertilize trees & shrubs... Nothing can reach its peak beauty without proper nutrition. While it's true that plants make their own food, by fertilizing you will ensure that your trees and shrubs will have the proper nutrients in order to photosynthesize. Fertilizer provides essential nutrients not typically found in the soil and will help to encourage new growth. Mulch... With one simple task you will be benefitting your landscape in many ways--both in health and beauty. Mulch will help minimize weed growth, prevent the roots of your plants from drying out by retaining water, and regulate the growing temperature at the plant base. A layer of fresh mulch will also create a clean and attractive look for your space. These five tasks are the most essential to get your landscape ready for the warmer months ahead. Each of these steps is included in the basic spring clean-up package that we provide but can also be completed by those DIY-ers out there. If you want to go above and beyond the basice spring clean-up we do offer additional services to beautify your landscape. Maybe you'd like to enhance your yard with a new flowering tree or some perennials to add a splash of color? Call today and ask for Brian to get a jumpstart on your spring clean-up. In no time, your yard will be radiating the freshness and color that you've been waiting for all winter!