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Prepping Your Yard For Spring

It’s still cold, and the last of the snow may not even be quite gone. As you look outside, there’s not much about your yard to cheer you. The warm and heavily scented garden days of summer still seem very far away. But there’s something in the air. It’s a hint of new life, defined by the snowdrops and the daffodils that are braving the elements. It’s a visible lengthening of the day. It’s almost spring, and it’s an exciting time for anyone who longs to get back into their garden after the long cold winter season.

On the first day, you venture out, you look around, and you wonder where to start. There’s a lot to do before the soil warms up enough to start new planting before the grass growth kicks in and demands weekly attention from your lawnmower. Here are some tips on how to get your yard ready for spring.

Spring clean

Your yard needs it as much as your home does: a thorough clear out. Pick up any debris that might have gathered on your lawn during the winter months. Pick up all of the bits of paper and plastic that blew out of garbage cans. Pull out any dead annuals that are still lingering in the flower beds. Power wash paths to get rid of algae. Cut back perennials (pay particular attention to the woody shrubs like lavender). Rake up any leftover fall leaves, and empty and clean any containers that were in use during the winter.

Spruce Up Your Deck

Decks- especially wooden ones, need to be cleaned and cared for regularly. I used to be one of those people that grabs a flathead screwdriver, and gets on my knees to clean out the cracks. Nut now, I use an easy tool called The DeckTool to clear out debris, leaves, acorns, birdseed, and more from the cracks before pressure washing and staining. The Decktool is just long enough that you don’t need to bend over to remove anything from the cracks again. The saw part is serrated, so you can easily cut anything that is stuck, such as tree nuts or thick branches.

I also love that is is so lightweight! Even your kids can use it to complete their chores, and your arms won’t get tired if you have a large deck. Surprisingly, most of the purchases are made by women- I guess we just know how to made a hard job easier. 😉 You can purchase yours HERE!

Divide perennials

This is the best time of the year to lift and divide your perennials: it’s a great way of filling any empty spaces, and it’s also good to have something to trade with your gardening friends. See what you can swap! If you’re dividing and replanting, make sure to dig some compost or other fertilizer in with the divided plants.

Prune

If you didn’t get around to pruning fruit trees in the winter, make sure to get to them now before buds start to form. Get to your roses now, too, if you haven’t done so already. It’s easier and more logical to prune some trees now too when they are bare, and you can see the outline of the shape, but be careful! Some early bloomers are best pruned in late summer or autumn. If in doubt, check before you start.

Get a head start on weeds

Get ahead of the weeds by topping up mulched areas now, before growth starts. If you use a chemical weedkiller, it will be effective as soon as green shoots appear, so don’t delay. If you are weeding by hand, it’s so much easier to nip them in the bud in early spring, rather than try to deal with them when the growth really picks up.

Feed your lawn

If you are in a mild climate, it’s a good time of year to get your lawn off to a great start before the growing season really kicks in. Get some advice on what kind of fertilizer will best suit your lawn.

Start your seeds

Counting backward from the time of your latest anticipated frost, follow the guidelines on the packets and get your seeds started indoors, ready to plant out when the time is right. There’s nothing better than waking up on a fine morning when spring is really in the air, and knowing that the preparations you’ve been making for the last few weeks mean that you’re ready to take full advantage of every gardener’s favorite time of the year.

 

Prepare vegetable beds

If you’re in a mild climate, this work can start now. Preparing new beds and digging over old ones can be a great way of loosening up the soil and keeping warm at the same time. Don’t forget to fertilize your soil by adding compost, animal manure, or chemical fertilizers, depending on your soil’s needs. If you’re not sure about what type of soil you have, now is also a good time of year to do a soil test.

Get your shed sorted

Still too cold to spend too much time outside? You could take shelter in your garden shed: make sure all your tools are clean and in working order, wash containers and old seed trays, do a general tidy of all shelves and take your lawnmower for a service if it needs one. Clean any furniture that’s been stored away, and see what needs repainting or varnishing (it may be still too cold to actually do this outside, but it’s good to know what you’ll need to buy so you’ll be ready when the time comes).

Stock up

If it’s still too cold even for the garden shed, then put your feet up inside, preferably somewhere that you can look out on your yard, and browse through some seed catalogs or place your orders online. It’s the time of year for planning: are you going to try some new plants? Do you need extra containers or window boxes? Are you stocked up on fertilizers, seed compost, trays, and tools?