Spring Yard Cleanup Checklist: Where to Start
Once we notice that snow melting and know winter is behind us, you’ll start to see signs of spring. Your yard will start to show signs of green, flower buds start breaking through the soil, and birds start to show up more often. It’s also during this time that homeowners and gardening enthusiasts start thinking about the annual task of spring yard cleanup.
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But it isn’t just for aesthetics, yard cleanup is an important step in preparing your outdoor space for the growing season, ensuring a vibrant and healthy garden and lawn that can be enjoyed all the way through fall.
Preparation for Spring Cleanup
Before you even begin the cleanup process, you need to make sure you have all the necessary tools and materials on hand.
Essential Items for Spring Yard Cleanup
Essential items include:
- Gloves
- Rakes
- Pruning Shears
- Lawn Mower
- Garden Waste Bags
There is plenty more that will help you along the way. But these five things are great essentials and will get the spring yard cleanup started in a big way. You should also consider safety and comfort as well. Wear appropriate footwear, consider eye protection for certain tasks, and stay hydrated if it is a warm day.
Step-by-step Guide to Spring Yard Cleanup
Step 1: Lawn Care
Early spring is the perfect time for seeding bare patches in your lawn and a lot of people make the mistake of jumping straight into the seeding process. The first thing you need to do is begin with de-thatching to remove dead grass from your lawn. Next, aerate your lawn to allow water and nutrients to reach the roots. After you remove the dead grass and aerate, then apply seeds to the bare patches of your lawn. Finish your lawn care off by completing a full round of fertilizer to your entire lawn to encourage lush growth in the coming months.
Step 2: Garden Beds
The first thing you’ll want to do is start by removing any dead plants and any debris that may have fallen from overhead trees. This will give you a clean workspace and allow better growth conditions for your flowers. Next, prune perennials and shrubs to promote healthy growth. You should also add a layer of mulch to your garden beds. Mulch is a great way to retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and reduce weed growth in your garden beds. Finally, test and amend your soil with compost to enrich it before planting.
Step 3: Trees and Shrubs
This is one of the easier steps during winter cleanup. Inspect your trees and shrubs for signs of disease or damage. If you discover anything, simply prune as necessary. Not only will this help the trees, it could prevent a future hazard during a nasty storm later in the season.
Step 4: Cleaning Patios, Decks, and Walkways
Your exterior hardscapes will often accumulate winter grime. Spring is a great time to start fresh so that you can enjoy your outdoor living space as soon as the temperatures are consistently warm enough. Start by sweeping your patios, decks, and walkways of any debris. Then give it a good wash to remove that grime that may have built up over winter.
Step 5: Organizing Outdoor Spaces
The last area on your spring yard cleanup checklist is also the one that is most fun as well. Tidy up your outdoor living areas and arrange your patio furniture so that you can relax after all of that hard work. This is also the perfect time to clean and organize sheds, garages, and other storage spaces. Keeping your storage areas well-organized makes them easier to use throughout the season.
Post-Cleanup Care
You’ve put in the hard work but the work doesn’t stop there. Maintaining your yard is just as important. But if you put in the time and effort in spring, it’ll make work in the summer much easier for you. Simply keep an eye on the health of your lawn, flowers, and plants. Water appropriately and treat pest or disease issues as soon as you notice them.
Common Spring Yard Cleanup Mistakes to Avoid
One of the most common mistakes that people make is doing these cleanup tasks too early. If you start too early, you can damage soggy soil and tender plants. Make sure that the ground has dried out from the final snow melt. You also don’t need to try and do everything in one day. If you spread the work into smaller tasks over several weekends, you’ll feel less rushed and you can be sure you are doing everything the right way with proper time and attention.
Spring yard cleanup can be a rewarding experience that rejuvenates your yard and living space. With a little bit of planning and effort, you can easily transform any yard into a sanctuary that you’ll be able to enjoy all summer long.
