After what feels like a long winter, it might be hard to imagine that springtime blooms are just around the corner but that springtime sunshine will be here before we know it! Get your yard sunshine-ready with 6 easy ways you can start to prep your yard for spring:
- Start to clean debris. As your yard starts to thaw out, take an easy 5-10 minutes to walk through your yard each week. Prune any dead branches on trees and shrubs. Collect any deadfall, leaves, litter or other unwanted items that may have gone into hibernation in your yard. If you have a pup, this, of course, includes poop scoop duty (if you want to bring in reinforcements for this one, there are a few local businesses you can hire to help you!).
- Clean your structures. As the days get warmer, this is a good opportunity to give your permanent structures (your shed, deck, patio, etc.) a refreshing clean. This includes a firepit, if you have one! Find a sunny Sunday to clear out the winter cobwebs and dirt. You can do this with a hose, a power washer, or even a simple bucket of warm water. You may be surprised at the difference it can make on the overall look and feel of your yard!
- R and Aer. A little raking and aerating can go a long way for your lawn. After the melt, a light raking will help remove any dead grass or leaves and help new grass start to take over. In our Calgary climate, the ground is typically ready for raking in March to April, but watch for the snow to be melted and the ground to be (mostly) thawed.
- Garden Prep. Remove any annuals you plan to replace and divide any perennials that may need a little more room to grow. This is important in making sure these plants aren’t overcrowded and are getting good airflow evenly throughout their growth. Here’s where you can start to add compost to your garden bed as well, evenly throughout the bed and with a little extra attention to roots. This is also a good time to tidy your edging (the space between your lawn and your garden), cultivate old mulch and add in your new mulch to your beds (just make sure to limit mulch around tree and shrub bases to avoid potential rot!).
- Fertilize & Water. Lawn fertilizer should be applied three times throughout the year, the first of which happens in spring. This helps your lawn eat up the nutrients it may have lost over the chill and be ready to grow, strong and lush.
- Assess Yard Needs. Now that your current outdoor canvas has been tidied, you can take a look at where you want to add, upgrade, fix or remove specific elements. This is everything from lighting (are there low-lit areas that need better visibility for safety, or aesthetic?) to layout (is it clear where the natural flow of activities and traffic in the yard should – or shouldn’t – be). Be honest and creative here – this is a fun one! It’s your home sweet home and being honest in areas of opportunity will help you ensure you are creating that feeling as much in your outdoor space as you do indoors. Even if it’s a multi-year plan, identifying your wishlist is a great way to gameplan the ways you’ll continue to cultivate your own great outdoors (and we love hearing your ideas – let us know what you come up with!).
Much like the rest of us, your yard is excited for summer sunshine and with these 6 easy steps, you’re on your way to making sure your yard is all ready for it!