Best Process for Cleaning up Your Yard This Spring

Spring is coming, and with it comes thoughts of spring cleaning around your home. As your thoughts turn to the yard work that is needed after a long winter, you may be wondering what the best way to tackle the job would be. If you’re feeling a little overwhelmed at what needs to be done, here is a good process to follow to get things off on a good start.

1. Start with the Junk
Over the winter, your yard likely accumulated a bit of junk. Some of it is natural, like the leaves and twigs that fell during the winter, and some of it is less so, like garbage that got left behind when the snow melted. Start the process of spring cleaning your yard by getting rid of all refuse off of your lawn and your flower beds. Don’t forget to remove the dead annuals from your flower beds during this process.

2. Prune the Shrubs and Trees
Next, take a moment to prune your shrubs and trees. You can prone away dead or diseased branches now, aiming to prune back all damaged branches to the live stems. If your shrubs need shaping, make sure that you time the process well. If they are spring blooming plants, wait until after they flower to prune. If they are summer flowering plants, prune in the spring before the buds start to swell. For evergreens, prune them back to a branch that is growing the direction you want the entire shrub to grow.

3. Rake the Lawn
Even after removing the refuse, you will want to rake your lawn. This helps remove any dead grass or other debris that is below the surface of the grass, and it frees up the lawn to grown more healthy when the growing season hits.

4. Prep the Shed and Your Tools
Next, make sure your shed and your tools are ready for what you are going to need them to do soon. If you have any broken tools, replace them now before they are needed in the middle of a job. Make sure the shed is organized so you can easily grab what you need when you need it.

5. Prepare the Planting Beds
Finally, make sure your flower or garden beds are ready for planting. Remove any dead plants and weeds, then add some compost around ou13r perennial plants. If your weeds appear to be out of control, consider using a weed control service. If the ground has hardened, use a tiller to loosen it so you will be ready to plant. If you need to use chemical fertilizer, have a soil sample tested by your local extension office so you can choose the right one.

Spring cleaning your yard does not have to be difficult. All it takes is some time and effort, but it is well worth putting in.