1. Mow The Lawn
Whether you’re a green thumb or a novice, mowing the lawn is a necessary step to keep your property looking its best. It’s also a great way to reduce soil compaction, a major cause of turf wear. Mowing often, in the right direction, and at the correct time of day can help your grass grow healthy and green!
2. Clean Up The Debris
It’s a good idea to clean up any debris that winter has left behind. Removing dead plants from your garden and composting them is an important step in making your garden more appealing for pollinators and wildlife. Some beneficial insects, like luna moths and mourning cloak butterflies, overwinter in dead flowers and other plant materials, which is why it’s important to remove these before the weather warms up too much.
3. Fertilize The Lawn
Lawns need the nutrients in fertilizers to resist drought, heat, cold, mowing, foot traffic, and other stressors. Taking the time to properly fertilize your lawn will not only keep it healthy and beautiful, but also prevent diseases, pests, and weeds. The key to using fertilizer responsibly is to follow the directions on the label and water the lawn after applying the product. Don’t let the fertilizer sit on top of the soil, as this will cause it to burn the grass.
4. Re-Seed Bare Patches
One easy way to repair a bare patch in your yard is to re-seed it with grass seed. The seed will establish more quickly and grow into dense, healthy plants that will blend in with the rest of your lawn. But before you spread the seeds, take extra care to prepare the bare spot and surrounding area by raking out any weeds or dead grass. Roughening the soil will help the seeds work into the soil and get a head start on their roots. Afterwards, mix the grass seeds with potting soil to create a thick and porous mixture. Apply the grass seed at a rate of 10 to 15 seeds per square inch of the bare spot.
5. Trim Trees And Shrubs
A good pruning schedule involves thinning out old stems to allow new growth to grow through them, as well as to remove dead branches that could fall and harm people or damage property. Trimming should be done on a regular basis, or as needed, and should be performed according to the plant’s label. The best time to prune flowering shrubs is as they bloom. They form buds on last year’s growth and trimming them soon after they bloom will maximize their flower power in the following spring.