DIY Spring Landscape Cleanup
by Mark Wolfe
Spring is here! Winter’s cold, wet weather has taken its toll on you and your landscape. Now is a great time to break out of the winter blahs and get outside. Show your home some love and bring back the curb appeal with a DIY spring landscape cleanup.
Take a walk.
Before diving into random work, take some time to assess your landscape’s needs. On a beautiful late winter or early spring day, walk through every corner of your yard and intentionally look at details. Note any maintenance needs you discover:
- Sticks, leaves and other debris
- Structural pruning of trees and shrubs
- Emerging perennials
- Bedlines
- Mulch
- Hardscape
- Bird houses, feeders and baths
Clean the slate.
Your spring landscape cleanup should begin by simply getting rid of debris. Start with structural pruning and debris cleanup. Structural pruning of trees and shrubs includes removal of damaged and crossing branches, deep pruning and pocket pruning hedges to maintain size and shape, and removal of dead material. Afterwards, remove all pruning debris, as well as any debris that has accumulated in the rest of the landscape over the winter. Dispose of the debris by grinding and using for mulch, building a habitat brush pile, or recycling.
Make the beds.
After walking through the landscape removing garden debris, you will need to get those beds back in shape. If perennials are already emerging, they may be divided as needed to thin out crowded areas and fill in empty spots. Add compost to rejuvenate the soil. Use a garden spade to redefine the bedlines. Finish off with a fresh application of mulch.
Make it shine.
Remove last year’s nests from bird houses. Clean bird feeders and birdbaths with a chlorine bleach solution to rid them of algae and harmful bacteria. It’s also a great time to clean patios, decks and outdoor furniture.
Take advantage of nice weather early in the season, and get your landscape ready for the season. A DIY spring landscape cleanup will have your yard looking great in no time.
