With winter weather finally behind us (hopefully!), your attention is now geared into spring and your yard, which might be filled with scattered broken branches, piles of dead leaves, budding weeds, and a few bare patches. Your garden may have some new growth as well.
If you tackle your landscape now, you can guarantee a healthy and lush lawn throughout the growing season. You will also save yourself time and energy later by putting in the effort now.
Below are seven important tasks you can take on in the next couple of weeks.
1. Clear out the debris in your yard.
Any spring lawn prep begins by removing debris that has accumulated over the winter. Grab a rake and remove those dead leaves, litter, and any other yard clutter. After you have taken care of this, help your lawn a bit by spreading a thin layer (about 1/4 inch thick) of aged compost.
2. Prune broken tree limbs.
Look around the trees and woody plants in your yard. Prune any damaged, diseased or dead limbs you find. Also, prune any shrubs or rose bushes too. This will help accommodate new growth.
3. Re-seed any bare patches.
If your lawn contains any bald spots, you want to get them treated before you plant any new seeds. First, cut the area around the bare patch with a shovel to a depth of at least two inches. Next, level the soil with the back of the shovel or a rake. Then re-fill the area with a combination of grass seed and fertilizer. Water as needed.
4. Aerate your lawn.
Aeration allows air, water, and nutrients to reach the roots of the grass so they can grow deeply and produce a stronger, healthier looking lawn. This process involves perforating the soil with small holes. It’s best to aerate the lawn in the early spring when the weather is still a bit cooler. You can rent or purchase an aeration machine to make the job a little easier.
5. Sharpen your lawnmower blade.
Before mowing your lawn for the first time since probably the fall, be sure to sharpen your lawnmower blade. A dull blade will rip the grass instead of cutting it. Once you’ve sharpened it (and you can get this done at any home improvement store), go ahead and mow the lawn.
6. Fertilize the entire lawn.
After you’ve re-seeded your bald patches, aerated your lawn, and cut the grass, you now want to fertilize the entire lawn. Always wait to do this until your mowed the lawn. A bag of fertilizer contains three numbers which show you the percentage of nitrogen, phosphate, and potassium—the primary nutrients to feed your lawn. So a 20-5-10 bag will have 20 percent nitrogen, 5 percent phosphate, and 10 percent potassium. This is a good mixture for early spring. Read the label to learn whether you should water the lawn before or after applying the fertilizer.
7. Water those plants—often
Thoroughly soak the soil before you add any new plants into the ground. Once they are firmly in the ground, keep watering them daily until the plants are established. The soil should be slightly moist at all times. If you have multiple plants, don’t line them up in straight rows. For an aesthetic-pleasing garden, stagger the plants.
Protect Your Home With Homeowner's Insurance
Spending time to get your property ready for greener days not only beautifies your property but increases its value too. Most importantly, it may help make your home ownership a happy and healthy experience.
Be sure to also protect yourself with affordable home insurance. Contact us today to learn how Bock Agency can help with your homeowner's policy. We offer home insurance tailored to your needs in North Huntingdon, Pennsylvania including the Greensburg, Irwin, N. Huntingdon, Pittsburgh, and Trafford areas. Request a homeowner's insurance quote today.