As spring arrives and the days get longer, the sun feels warmer, and fresh buds start to pop out of the ground and on tree branches, green thumbs can't wait to get their hands in the dirt. Those living at higher elevations typically have to wait a bit longer to dig in than other flatlanders, as the nights can still be frosty, and the soil may still be wet from the snowmelt.
But alas, there's a lot that gardening enthusiasts can do right now to get ahead. Spring is a great time to prep your gardens, flowerbeds, and lawns. In addition, you can clean up shrubs and trees and cut back perennials before they grow, getting rid of last year's growth.
Here are some other top tips for spring landscaping:
Start where you can: Most likely there's a sunny side of your home that's ready to work on, while the other side may still be covered in snow. Work around your yard as the ground permits, but make sure the soil is dry before doing so, which leads to the next...
Don't manipulate the mud: You may be anxious, but if you try to work in muddy soil, you're not doing your lawn or gardens any favors. Manipulating soils or gardens when it's muddy brings out all the clay aspects and creates rock-hard clods. If there's a sunny, warm week the soil might dry out, giving you a window to work the soil before the next rain (or snow!) comes. If it's taking a while to dry, you can still work the perimeters to clean out the dead.
Out with the old: By getting rid of last year's dead, you are creating a healthier environment for the new growth to thrive and flourish. For perennials, cut them back to one to two inches from ground level. Ornamental grasses can be cut back to three to five inches from the ground.
Lawn prep: When the snow melts your lawn is most likely still home to some dead leaves leftover from fall. It's also most likely home to vole tunnels, as this mouse-like rodent digs and feeds on the juicy stems of grass throughout the winter. When the yard is clear, rake up the debris to make way for healthy new growth.
Adding flowers: Dying to have some color in your garden in the spring? Go for Pansies, which hold up incredibly well to frost. Hold off planting most other annuals, until early summer, or when the temperatures consistently stay above 55 degrees, and cover them up if the temperatures drop below freezing.
Cover up: Dragging your flowerpots and garden starts in and out can get old and also cause serious damage to the plants. Instead, consider using a real frost blanket; they work incredibly well, and can save you time. And they are reusable, so you can pack it in the garden shed for the following spring.
Get plant ready: When the ground is dry, and you've cleaned up from last year, spring is a great time to replenish flower and garden beds and add nutrients with compost and fresh mulch. When you're ready to plant, and once the plants begin to grow, add some fertilizer, preferably organic fertilizer to protect the area's watershed from pollution.
If you have any questions, call or contact Litaker Insurance today.