The first day of Spring is March 20th, and we could not be more excited! The quintessential start of blue sunny skies, and bright, beautiful landscapes is fast approaching. But before you go running to your local nursery or home improvement store for those supplies, know the tools and tips needed to make your Spring a success!
Pruning for Spring
Start by removing dead, diseased, or damaged stems when you see them. Also remove crossing branches, water sprouts and shoots that develop near or from below ground. For Spring-flowering shrubs, these will need to pruned well into Spring once they have finished blooming. Summer-blooming shrubs, however, can be pruned in early Spring and even in some cases, late Winter. You can cut them all the way down to the ground and they’ll still bloom beautifully come Summer! When pruning trees and shrubs, safety is also important. If your trees have weak, dangling branches, they could pose a threat to passing vehicles, people, cars and buildings. If these branches are high up and close to power lines, please call your nearby professional tree trimming company or utility provider.
Spring Cleaning and Maintenance of Your Lawn
A good start to a healthy lawn in the Spring is to clean up any twigs, leaves and other debris left behind from the past Fall and Winter. Feed your lawn with a combination of fertilizer and pre-emergent, which will help to prevent crabgrass growth. Many lawn care brands offer a combination of both so that it will lower your cost and the time it takes to apply them. Mow often in the Spring, at least every 5 days for the first six weeks of Spring, depending on the weather, to ensure a thicker, fuller lawn.
Get your Home Spring Ready
A common occurrence in most households is the great “Spring cleaning” event. This goes beyond your typical dusting and decluttering. Safety is also a concern when getting ready for the changing of the seasons. This includes checking your smoke alarms and changing their batteries, cleaning out your dryer vents to prevent any risk of fire hazards in your home and making sure your home is free from mold and allergens. This is also the perfect time to replace all filters in your home including water, range hood and air vent filters. They should be replaced every 3-6 months depending on the type of filter you have. On the exterior, check your gutters for debris. Remove as much as you can with your hands (gloves on of course!). Any remaining debris can be removed with a garden hose. Make sure your downspouts channel water at least five feet away from foundation walls.