Preparing Your Lawn for the Arrival of Spring

While spring has recently just arrived it is never too early for homeowners to start thinking about getting their lawn in shape and looking good.

With the help of our friends at Weed Man, Project EverGreen has put together a “Spring Lawn Care Checklist” to help you organize your to do list and get your lawn ready for spring and summer fun!

Inspect Your Lawn. Get your rake on – it’s not just for fall anymore. Gathering up last year’s leaves and thatch – that dead grass under all of the green grass in your yard – is important to keeping your lawn healthy. More than a ½ inch of thatch is detrimental, and you’ll have to rake hard to remove it. This also reveals any dead spots that were covered by the thatch that you should now treat.

Maintain That Mower. Arguably one of the most fun parts of spring is that dormant cutting machine in your garage. Before you fire it up, though, make sure to sharpen the blades, replace spark plugs and check the oil and air filters. If you need to take it to the shop, do it early. Repair shops get swamped this time of year.

Check Hoses and Sprinkler Heads. To conserve the most water possible, make sure you don’t have any leaky hoses or rotors, and that they’re spraying only where you want them to. No sense giving the driveway a bath.

Create a Compost Pile. Pick a spot away from your house and pile your grass clippings, dead leaves and even kitchen scraps. Give it a turn or two every weekend and you’ll soon have a nutrient-rich mixture to spread on your garden.

Get Organized. You’ll save yourself tons of time if your garage or garden shed is in proper order. Enlist (or coerce) your family to help – it’s a great way to spend some time together and be productive. Get some music on the radio, lots of trash bags and go! Get rid of anything you haven’t seen and haven’t missed in the last year. Throw away ancient bird seed. Take everything out, sweep the floor and put things back in a logical and orderly way. Return tools back to their proper places. Anything you don’t need, give to charity or sell.

Mulch Your Yard. Mulch around the bases of trees, shrubs and in flower beds helps keep your plants warm and retains water. Don’t lay it on too thick, though. A depth of 2 to 4 inches is all you need to get the job done. Early bulb shoots might need a bit more in the start of the season to protect them from damage.

Prune Roses, Shrubs and Bushes. Break out those pruning shears and trim up the plants that don’t bloom in the spring. Remove the deadwood, and keep the foliage in the plant’s natural shape. This will help the plants thrive as the season gets under way.

Turn Over Your Garden and Plant Seeds. Now is the time to amend your garden soil with fertilizer, peat moss and other nutrient-rich material to feed your vegetables all season long. Use a shovel and hoe or a powered tiller to break up the dirt and turn in your amendments.

Clean and Flush Your Gutters. Do this before the spring rains. Remove any debris from the gutters and downspouts, and then flush with a jet spray nozzle on your garden hose. Not only does this protect your foundation from water damage, but it also keeps the heavy downpours from inundating any plants under your eaves.

Clean Your Patio Furniture. Pull out the chairs and tables from your basement or garage, wipe off the cobwebs and dirt from last fall’s clambake and set up your backyard furniture. Take a seat and enjoy your newly organized yard with your favorite drink.

For more information on Project EverGreen’s programs that promote the economic, social and lifestyle benefits of managed green spaces, visit www.ProjectEverGreen.org

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