Staying on top of your landscaping duties ensures that you’ll never be overwhelmed by your lawn, trees and plants.  If you allow things to get out of hand you may find yourself overrun by chores and becoming daunted by the tasks that need to be taken care of.  In order to prevent this from happening, we’ve come up with some ideas on how to maintain your landscaping.

Lawn

Your lawn is probably the largest and most noticeable patch of plants in your yard.  Keeping it well manicured will give your house a tidy look and keep the neighbours happy.  Make sure not to cut it too short in the spring, keep it well watered and fertilize if necessary.  Rake up any fallen leaves in the autumn to prevent molds, pests and grass die offs.

Trees

Keeping your trees maintained is necessary for both safety and aesthetics.  Consistently remove dead branches. Keep an eye on the larger ones to make sure they aren’t a danger to any nearby buildings if they happen to break off in inclement weather.  Place mulch around the tree bases in the spring and remove suckers and out of place branches. Once the tree has flowered you can give them a full trimming. If you notice signs of disease or need help trimming large branches, contact an arborist.

Shrubs

You should fertilize and mulch shrubs in the spring.  You can also prune them to shape to make them easier to maintain throughout the summer.  Once fall arrives you can cut certain shrubs right down to the ground or just remove the dead branches on others.  Research the types of shrubs you have in your yard to help you make these decisions.

Flowers

You’ll want to plant annuals during the spring, whereas perennials could be planted in the fall or spring depending on the variety.  Keep them watered throughout the summer consistent with their preference and fertilize during planting, budding and flowering. Remove the flowers as they die off.  Annuals can be removed completely while perennials can be trimmed to the ground in the fall.