Prepping Your Gardens and Landscaping for Spring
Mar 06th 2018
It can be easy to neglect landscaping Gainesville, FL yards on gloomy, cold winter days. But as the weather gets warmer and spring is on the horizon, many homeowners regain their motivation to spend time outdoors revamping their gardens to show them off. If you’re ready to get outside and ensure you have a “wow” garden this summer, here are ways in which you can prepare your yard for spring landscaping.
Cleaning the Yard
The best way to begin a Gainesville landscaping project this spring is with a thorough yard cleanup. Using a thick pair of gloves and remove any litter that may have deposited into your yard during the winter. Rake the leaves that you may have missed in the fall or those that have been blown into the yard by winter winds. The same goes for pine cones, acorns, twigs and branches. An empty yard will look more spacious and provide a clean slate for new plantings. It will also allow the grass to grow in thick and full, and it will be easier to work on the yard without thatch, distractions or hazards such as stray pieces of plastic or glass.
Mowing & Pruning
Next, mow the lawn and prune trees, shrubs and bushes. When it comes to mowing, less is more. Don’t scalp the lawn because it could stress the grass and cause browning. In general, you should not cut off more than the top third of the blade. Also, mowing in varied directions — instead of, say, only diagonally — can ensure a more upright growth pattern and reduce soil compaction. Pruning removes dangerous limbs and improves the shape and health of the plants in the yard. If you think some plants may have been partially damaged by winter freezes, inspect them and remove the damaged parts carefully to salvage the rest.
Edging
This is the process of creating a defined edge between different sections of your landscape or garden. It serves a dual purpose of giving the yard a pristine appearance and preventing grass and weeds from overgrowing into flower beds and mulched areas. Popular materials for edging include bricks, stone, wood and plastic.
Mulching
Mulching is an important step toward lawn care in Gainesville, FL. Mulch helps tropical plants and flowers stay healthy throughout the winter and last until spring. This layer of decaying leaves, bark or compost insulates and enriches the soil. It protects roots from freezing temperatures and helps moisture control by absorbing rainwater and releasing it over time. Mulch also slows down the growth of weeds by keeping them covered and weighted down. When spring rolls around, replace your mulch with a new, fresh layer. If new plants have started to come up, be careful not to cover them and block growth.
Seeding & Planting
If you notice dips or bare spots on your lawn, don’t panic. You can rake dead grass in the areas, flush them with water, and level them out with sand and soil. Then, reseed with your preferred grass variety and water them regularly until the new grass is fully grown. Similarly, reseed other areas of the garden if needed. Spring is an ideal time to plant flowers, perennials and even crops. That said, be careful not to over-fertilize. Gainesville lawn care experts advise against fertilizing too early in spring, for at this time plants are putting energy into root development, and applying fertilizer could divert the effort into leaf development too soon. Postponing fertilizing until the transition time between spring and summer or until fall may be a better idea.
Get Lawn Service in Gainesville, FL
Evergreen Lawn Care provides full lawn service Gainesville residents can rely on at any time of the year. Our staff can recommend maintenance techniques tailored to the types of plants you have, as well as help you build a garden from scratch. To find out about our lawn service packages, contact us today.
