Spring cleaning begins where winter left its mark. Clearing out debris, pruning damaged limbs, and preparing the soil now sets the stage for healthy growth throughout the season. Here’s a checklist to help you tackle the essentials and get your yard back in shape.
Prune Trees and Shrubs
Pruning improves the shape and appearance of trees and shrubs, encourages healthy new growth, and allows you to identify any significant issues early, such as fungal infections or pest infestations.
First, carefully inspect your trees and shrubs. Using clean, sharp pruning tools, remove dead, diseased, or damaged wood, cutting it back to healthy tissue. For branches thicker than a half-inch, a handsaw makes for a clean cut.
Summer-flowering shrubs like Bluebeard and Rose of Sharon should be pruned before the buds swell. On the other hand, wait to prune Forsythia, Ninebark, and other spring-flowering shrubs until after they’ve flowered to avoid removing this year’s blooms.
Clean Up Flower Beds and Borders
Give flower beds and borders a fresh start by clearing away fallen leaves and dead foliage, which can smother plants and create conditions for disease. Remove spent annuals and add them to your compost pile or green waste bin.
After the risk of frost has passed, pull away old mulch to make room for a fresh layer; this helps prevent fungal growth and improves air circulation around the bases of plants.
Watch for plants that may have been pushed out of the ground by frost heaving. This common winter issue occurs when cycles of freezing and thawing cause soil to expand and contract, gradually pushing the roots above the soil. Exposed roots are vulnerable to cold temperatures and drying winds, which can lead to damage or even plant loss. Gently press any heaved plants back into the soil and tamp down around the base to secure them. If plants are severely displaced, use a shovel to replant them properly.
While working in flower beds, take this opportunity to apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer suited to your plantings. Spread it on the soil surface so spring rains can help carry nutrients down to the roots.
Compost Yard Waste
Composting is an effective way to reduce waste while creating nutrient-rich material for your garden. Gather leaves, plant cuttings, spent foliage, and last season’s mulch to add to your compost pile. If you don’t have a compost bin, you can DIY one from chicken wire, wood pallets, or a plastic storage container.
To speed up decomposition, shred leaves and chip branches larger than a half-inch before adding them to the pile. You can also use a bagged compost starter to help jumpstart the process. Be cautious about adding early spring weeds that have gone to seed, as they may not break down completely and could sprout later when you use the compost.
Keep the pile damp, about as moist as a wrung-out sponge, and turn it with a pitchfork every two weeks to keep air flowing.
Make Spring Cleaning Easier
Spring yard work often calls for handheld equipment like weed eaters and chainsaws. With EZ-POUR®, you can keep using your old gas cans with the efficiency and safety you need.
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