On the Home Front Blog
Prepping Your Yard for Spring
by Brandon Simpson and Dan Lawson
It’s Spring, and lately, we’ve been spending more time outside. The days are longer, warmer and the great outdoors is an inviting retreat, whether you are putting a few burgers on the grill or taking a leisurely walk through the neighborhood.
Spring
The spring months are also prime time for prepping lawn and garden areas for the growing season ahead. There are tasks you can do now to ensure a healthy yard, thriving garden beds, and beautiful blooms for months to come. Here’s a quick checklist to get you started:
Tidy Up
Start by clearing out fallen leaves, limbs and debris that have accumulated over the winter, and trim back any overgrown areas.
Spring is a good time to test your soil
You may think your lawn requires the same fertilizer application as last season, but that’s not always the case. By using a simple soil test kit, you can be confident in applying the right spring feeding mix, while avoiding the harmful effects of over-fertilizing. Kits are available at your neighborhood garden center and local Virginia Cooperative Extension offices.
Leave grass clipping where they fall
Leave the clippings on the lawn when you mow. High in nitrogen and other nutrients, these will give your lawn a natural boost. No bagging needed!
Water wisely
Grassy lawns only need about one inch of rain per week to thrive. Use a rain gauge to determine if watering is necessary. When you do water in the spring, be sure to adjust sprinklers so you are watering plants, not the pavement.
Choose native plants
When choosing plants for garden beds, go native. Suited for the climate in which you live, native plants will save you time and money in the long run. They are often drought tolerant, disease resistant, and require little to no fertilizer.
Mulch your Spring beds
Mulch gives your garden beds a clean, finished look. It’s practical too, helping to retain moisture while controlling weeds and soil temperatures.
Pick up after your pets
You probably do this already, but always pick up after your pets when they’ve been in the yard. Contrary to what you may have heard, dog waste has the opposite effect of fertilizer. It can burn your grass if don’t pick it up. After all the time spent getting your yard just right, trust us; that’s the last sight you want to see!
All the best,
Brandon and Dan
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