Keeping your landscape looking pristine requires attention throughout all seasons, not just during peak growing months. Each season brings its own set of challenges and opportunities, and staying on top of maintenance can help ensure that your yard remains healthy and vibrant year-round. Here’s a guide to what you should be doing for your landscape in every season.
1. Spring: Preparing for Growth
Spring is the time to wake your yard up from its winter slumber. This is when you lay the groundwork for a thriving landscape all year long.
- Clean-up: Start by removing dead leaves, branches, and debris that may have accumulated over the winter.
- Pruning: Prune trees and shrubs to encourage new growth and maintain shape.
- Fertilizing & Seeding: Apply fertilizer to strengthen your lawn, and overseed any thin areas to ensure lush grass come summer.
- Mulching: Refresh your mulch beds to retain moisture and keep weeds at bay as temperatures rise.
2. Summer: Keeping it Thriving
As the heat of summer sets in, your focus should shift to protecting your landscape from drought and ensuring that plants and lawns remain healthy.
- Watering: Ensure that your irrigation system is functioning properly and adjust it to provide deep, consistent watering. Early morning or late evening is best to avoid water loss due to evaporation.
- Weeding: Summer is prime time for weeds to take over, so stay diligent about pulling or treating them.
- Mowing: Keep your lawn at an appropriate height—too short, and it may dry out; too tall, and it can become unruly.
- Pest Control: Monitor for common pests, such as grubs or aphids, that can cause damage to your garden.
3. Fall: Preparing for Dormancy
As temperatures cool, it’s time to start preparing your landscape for the dormant winter season.
- Aeration: Aerate your lawn to relieve soil compaction and improve water and nutrient absorption.
- Leaf Removal: Rake or blow fallen leaves regularly to prevent them from smothering your grass and causing mold.
- Planting: Fall is an excellent time to plant trees and shrubs, giving them time to establish roots before winter.
- Winterizing Irrigation: Drain and shut down your irrigation system to avoid damage from freezing.
4. Winter: Protecting and Planning
While winter might seem like a quiet time for your landscape, there are still steps you can take to protect it and prepare for the next growing season.
- Protect Plants: Add a layer of mulch to insulate plant roots and wrap delicate shrubs to shield them from frost.
- Snow Management: Be mindful of where snow piles up—heavy snow on plants or lawns can cause damage.
- Plan for Spring: Use the downtime to plan any major landscaping projects for spring, so you’re ready to act when the weather warms up.
