Winter is finally over, and the tulips are beginning to bloom. You really want to be excited about the warmer weather and the green grass, but the first yard working day of the summer is always the hardest. While you may want to hide away and pretend it’s winter, spring yard work isn’t really all that bad! Here are 10 yard chores to knock out of the park that first weekend. The hard part will soon be over, and your yard is sure to look great!
1. Fix Uneven Stepping
Remember that stone in your pathway all last summer that drove you nuts? Yeah, take this opportunity to fix that. Stepping stones become uneven and dangerous when the ground experiences heating changes and excessive water. Fix by lifting the stone and placing additional gravel or dirt to level the stone. Make sure you double check your work with a leveling device.
2. Clean Birdhouses
HGTV recommends cleaning out your birdhouse at the beginning of the season. Clean out the feeders, check that the birdhouse is sturdy, and add some padding for your feathered friends.
3. Gutters
Yes, it’s time to clean the gutters. Leaves from the fall mixed with cold temperatures and snow in the winter can create a muddy mess in your gutters. Clean gutters are a must come the summer storms.
4. Dead Plant Removal
Chances are, you haven’t given your yard a second thought since you raked up that last leaf five months ago. Get rid of any old leaves, plants, dead branches, or anything else from last year that isn’t likely to bloom again. This will help to deliver adequate oxygen and sunshine to your newly planted shrubs and flowers.
5. Clean Clay Pots
After you have removed those dead plants from your clay flower pots, give them a good scrub. Remove any mud, salt from the winter, and old fertilizer marks using just water and a brush.
6. New Foliage
As soon as the last frost is behind you, make a trip to your local nursery. It’s important to come up with a bit of a color scheme to keep your yard from looking messy. Also, look for plants that have not bloomed yet, as they will be in full bloom in your yard instead of a store. Double check the root system, and avoid plants with slight browning or discoloration.
7. Wait To Mow
While you may be tempted to mow the grass as soon as it’s warm enough, it is best to wait until it is four inches long. Be sure to avoid cutting the grass too short as it may harm the growth cycle later in the summer.
8. Aerate
If you haven’t done it before, now is the perfect time to being aeration. Aerating your lawn allows oxygen to better reach the roots of the grass, giving it a richer color and a thicker texture.
9. Water
Begin watering your lawn in late spring or early summer. Avoid watering your grass until the new root systems have been revitalized and it is warm enough!
10. Memorial Day is for Fertilizing
Use memorial day weekend to fertilize your lawn, Better Lawn Care recommends a light nitrogen fertilizer.
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