After a long cold winter, your yard will be in need of some maintenance and care. Your shrubbery and trees have been longing for brighter and warmer days so that they can grow and thrive. Spring is an ideal time to clean up and improve our gardens for our family and friends to enjoy. Whether working in a front yard, side yard, or backyard, there are a few considerations to add to your spring planning this year.
Spring Yard Inspection
Start with a full yard inspection. You will want to create a list of outdoor areas that need to be cleaned up, cleared out, repaired, or replaced. As you inspect your garden make note of areas that you would like to add to or change so that you can include that in your outdoor budget for the year.
Look for:
- Winter-damaged plants (ice, snow, or cold damage)
- Garden beds needing cleanouts
- Shifted, bowed, or rotting hardscape elements (fences, sheds, benches & trellises)
- Bald spots or diseased spots in the grass
- Pest infestations
- Insects nests & hives
Spring Garden Cleanup
Early spring, when the ground is still cold and not ready for new shrubbery and trees, is an ideal time to work on preparing your yard for anticipated new plant additions. Spring cleaning in the yard is a lot of work and it can be hard to keep track of everything that needs to be done.
Items to Cleanup:
- Broken hardscape items – Start with removing or repairing your hardscape yard items first.
- Fallen branches
- Matted down leaves – Good hygiene in garden beds helps keep diseases and pests away.
- Annuals not removed in the fall
- Clear out debris from water features (ponds, bird baths & fountains)
- Scrub & sterilize bird baths & bird feeders – This will help clear out any insect eggs or lingering diseases.
- Trim and prune back shrubs
- Assess tree health & provide proper follow-up care
Tree Health Assessment & Care
Being proactive in the care and maintenance of your trees can help them thrive allowing them to grow stronger and healthier. Beyond the beauty of a well-maintained tree is the strength of its trunk and its roots. A tree that is well cared for will live longer and will be less likely to collapse or break in severe weather, lowering your risk of property damage.
Spring Tree Care:
- Assess overall tree health – Check for any cold weather damage, diseases, or pests.
- Prune – Pruning trees helps to stimulate new growth and allows you to remove existing damage that could worsen and become lasting damage or result in untimely tree death.
- Clean around the tree – Remove accumulated debris from around the base of the tree that can collect moisture and encourage fungal growth. Also, remove any competing plants or vines from around the tree that may compete for resources.
- Replenish mulch – With proper application, mulch can help retain moisture and prevent weed growth around your trees. Learn more about the right way to mulch around your tree.
- Fertilize & water – Make sure your trees are getting enough water and nutrients they need to grow and flourish.
Planning & Budgeting for Spring Yard Upkeep
Having an idea of everything that needs to be done in your gardens is key to making plans and setting a budget for the work you strive to do. Most of us tend to only plan for new items in our gardens when setting a yard budget for the year. We often forget to include ongoing maintenance costs and repair costs. Here are a few things to include in your budget for this season.
- Hardscaping Projects – Repairs are needed and new pieces
- New Plants – Flowers, shrubs, and ornamental grasses
- New Trees – Trees are a significant investment and proper research should be done before purchasing and planting.
- Fertilizers – For your lawn and garden
- Disease & Pest Remedies – For your lawn and garden
- Lawn Maintenance – Consider items needed to maintain lawn equipment or costs of hiring a lawn service
- Water Feature Maintenance – Cost of items needed to maintain pumps, and any livestock in pond features
- Tree Maintenance – Cost of special equipment needed to correctly prune and maintain trees or budget for professional arborist care.
Hire a Professional for Tree Maintenance
Arborists specialize in caring for all species of trees and are knowledgeable about each tree’s unique needs and optimal environment. They have expert training and professional equipment to provide trees with proper care. Hiring a licensed and certified arborist is a small investment into your property that leads to substantial returns over the years. With proper care, you can avoid large unexpected bills from damage caused by decaying or dying trees. Working with arborists for the health and care of your trees also saves you a lot of time. You no longer need to take the time to learn about each tree type, how much to water, what fertilizer to use, when to prune, how much to prune, etc. You can spend your time enjoying your outdoor space with friends and family instead of working to maintain it.
Choose BlackHawk Tree Services professionals to care for the health and success of your trees. For over 40 years, we have provided tree care and removal services for homeowners and businesses throughout Raleigh and the Research Triangle area, including Apex, Morrisville, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, and Holly Springs. BlackHawk is a full-service tree service provider that is fully licensed and insured to handle anything from pruning to health and risk assessments, tree removal, emergency services, stump grinding, and beyond.