Spring is the beginning of the growing season and with it comes a list of chores that should be taken care of to ensure uncomplicated and stress-free warmer months.  To give you an idea of what you should be concentrating on when you’re finally able to putter around the garden, we’ve compiled a list of top spring landscaping care tips.

Yard Inspection

Your yard may have been largely ignored throughout the winter months, so once you’re able it’s good to get out there and take a look around at your trees, shrubs and garden patches.  If your trees or shrubs need pruning to keep them away from buildings or other structures, now is the time to do it before they start growing in earnest. Check over your garden bed soil for weeds or molds that have survived the winter and dig it over or till it in preparation for planting.

Soil Testing

Although you don’t need to do this every year, having an understanding of your soil chemistry will make it much easier to be successful when it comes to growing flowers, vegetables and other plants.  There are soil testing kits available or you can often bring in a sample to your local gardening centre. Checking for pH and nutrient levels will allow you to amend the soil as necessary.

Fertilizing

If it needs to be done, spring is the best time for fertilizing most types of grasses and trees.  Knowing the types of lawn and trees you’re growing combined with soil tests will let you know if and when this is necessary.  Getting the fertilizer concentrations right is incredibly important, so read the directions of any fertilizer you’re considering using.

Mulching

Adding mulch around your trees and plant beds will not only make them look better, it will help with moisture retention and better root conditions while slowly releasing organic matter.  An inch thick layer is all that’s needed.  

Watering Systems

Winters can be hard on water pipes and plumbing.  Ideally you’ll have turned off any outdoor taps before the winter to prevent frozen and burst pipes.  Now is the time to turn them back on and make sure they’re functioning properly. If there are any problems you’ll have time to fix them before regular watering becomes necessary.