Spring Awakening: Preparing Your Landscape for the Warmer Months

After a long winter, spring’s arrival is a welcome sight for gardeners. Warmer temperatures and longer days signal that it’s time to wake up your landscape. Preparing your garden properly in early spring sets the stage for abundant blooms, healthy plants, and a beautiful yard all season long. Use these key tips to get your outdoor space ready for spring.

Start spring landscape prep by closely observing all trees, shrubs, perennials and lawns. Look for any damage sustained over the winter months:

• Prune out dead, diseased or damaged branches on trees and shrubs. Make cuts just above healthy buds or joints.
• Clear away any broken tree limbs or debris around plants to improve air circulation.
• Cut back perennials left for winter interest down to several inches above the ground when new growth begins.
• Rake up any matted leaves or debris from around plants and lawn to expose new growth.

Taking stock of condition and clearing away dead growth prepares plants for healthy new seasons.

Your plants will only thrive in properly prepared soil. Follow these tips to get your beds and lawns ready for planting:

• Take soil samples from beds and turf areas and send for testing every few years. This gives nutrient and pH levels.
• Add 2-3 inches of compost or other organic material and work into beds to enrich soil. Compost promotes microbial activity.
• Adjust pH if needed based on soil test results. Most plants grow best in slightly acidic soil, pH 6.0-6.5. Lime raises pH and sulfur lowers it.
• Lightly fertilize established trees, shrubs and perennials as new growth emerges to fuel plant processes. Use slow-release or organic formulations.
• Dethatch and aerate lawn if not done in fall. Core aeration improves drainage and oxygen to roots.

Healthy, fertile soil provides the strong foundation plants need to thrive. Pay attention to soil needs in early spring.

Ornamental grasses add texture and movement to gardens all year. Here are tips for cutting them back in spring:

• Use string trimmers or sharp pruners to cut back warm-season grasses like switchgrass and Indian grass close to the ground before new growth begins.
• For cool-season grasses, delay cutting until new green shoots are 4-6 inches tall. Then trim previous years’ tan growth down to several inches above the ground.
• Remove any grass debris after cutting to improve air circulation and light levels around the crowns.
• Avoid cutting too early or late. Late cutting once new growth occurs damages tender new foliage.

Properly renewing ornamental grasses keeps them healthy and maintains their shapely form.

Spring is prime time for planting new woody shrubs, trees and perennials in your yard:

• Focus on bare root, containerized or balled-and-burlapped plants early in the season before leaf out. Avoid planting after new growth emerges.
• Prepare planting holes wide enough to spread roots. For balled-and-burlapped plants, cut and remove as much of the burlap as possible before planting.
• Set plants at the same depth they were growing in the nursery. Backfill with native soil, tamp gently, and water thoroughly after planting.
• Apply 2-3 inches of mulch around newly planted areas, leaving some space open around trunks or crowns. This conserves moisture.

Follow proper planting techniques to give new additions the best start possible.

A full yard inspection allows you to spot any problems early:

• Identify weeds like crabgrass and dandelions and remove before they spread. Also treat any mosses or fungal issues.
• Fill in bare or thinning areas of lawn with new grass seed. Cover lightly with straw while grass germinates.
• Check for signs of tunneling or raised mounds that indicate moles or voles. Use deterrents or traps promptly to avoid extensive damage.
• Inspect patios, walls, fences and other structures for frost heave or damage. Repair issues to prevent worsening over seasons.
• Prune overhanging branches away from buildings and utilities. Shorten branches on older trees to reduce wind damage risk.

Address problems early on to keep your landscape looking its best.

Perennial and annual flower beds need some special care before spring planting:

• Cut back any remaining dead perennial foliage. Also divide large clumps of perennials every 3-5 years to stimulate new growth.
• Lightly turn over bed soil with a shovel or garden fork to aerate and expose pests. Add 1-2 inches of compost across beds.
• Edge beds with a blunt or powered edger to define shape. Add fresh mulch like shredded bark to deter weeds and retain moisture.
• Direct sow hardy annuals like larkspur and calendula directly in prepared beds once frost danger passes. Follow spacing guidelines.
• Warm soil and air temperatures are key for successful transplants of tender annuals and vegetables. Plant on proper dates.

Well-prepared flower beds create the ideal foundation for seeds and transplants to flourish.

Spring renewal sets up optimal growing conditions for your entire landscape. Focus on soil preparation, pruning, planting, and problem solving to give your yard a fresh new start. With proper early spring care, you’ll enjoy a thriving landscape all season long.

Q: When is the best time to fertilize my lawn in spring?

A: Early to mid spring before grass greens up and begins new growth is ideal. Choose a slow-release fertilizer and apply according to label directions. Avoid late spring fertilizing that encourages excessive growth prone to disease.

Q: Should I cut back all perennials in early spring?

A: Prune only the dead stems of winter interest plants like ornamental grasses, sedum and purple coneflower. Leave any new healthy green growth emerging from the base. Other perennials can be cut back once they start growing.

Q: How can I revive my lawn after winter damage?

A: Rake thoroughly to remove debris and expose grass. Overseed thin or bare patches. Apply a balanced fertilizer to encourage growth but avoid excess nitrogen. Raise your mower height to help grass recover. Aerate compacted areas.

Q: What is the best way to prepare garden soil before planting?

A: Testing soil first gives you a baseline. Then add 2-3 inches of compost and turn beds over to mix in evenly. Just before planting, rake beds smooth and water thoroughly. Avoid walking directly on prepared beds to prevent compaction.

Q: When should ornamental grasses be cut back for spring?

A: The timing depends on the type. Cut back warm-season grasses in early spring before new growth emerges. Delay cutting cool-season grasses until green growth reaches 4-6 inches tall. Then trim old foliage down to several inches above the crown.

Q: How often do trees and shrubs need fertilizer?

A: Mature trees and shrubs typically only need light fertilization every 2-3 years in early spring as growth resumes. Young establishing plants can be fertilized annually for the first few seasons to encourage root growth and vigor.