Preparing your landscaping in Texas for spring is very important, but it doesn’t have to be difficult with the right help and a bit of knowledge. Here’s are the eight steps you need to take to make sure your yard is spring-ready:
1. Inspect Your Trees and Shrubs
Spring is considered a time of rebirth, but that can be difficult when plants have damaged limbs and other problems that inhibit their growth. You’ll need to check each plant carefully for signs of damage. If you find damaged branches, you’ll need to carefully remove them by pruning the tree or shrub. In some cases, you won’t be able to reach the damaged areas. If that’s the case, such as with a much larger or taller tree, calling a professional is the right choice. Trying to handle concerns like that on your own can be very dangerous, so it’s best to make the safe and effective choice of trusting those jobs to the professionals.
2. Test Your Soil
Your soil should be tested every two to three years. That ensures that it’s healthy enough to support the proper growth of plants. If you’re not sure how to test your soil, the best way is to take a sample of the soil to your local agricultural extension office. They have the right equipment to test your soil’s pH balance and nutrient mix. They can also provide recommendations of potential changes depending on the current health of the soil and your own soil preferences. Landscaping professionals can also help you test the soil to help you keep your plants healthier.
3. Fertilize the Lawn
Before you fertilize your lawn, you need to know the condition of the soil you already have. That’s why the soil test is an important first step. After you get the results of your soil test back, you can choose a fertilizer that meets the nutritional needs of your soil, ensuring healthy plant growth.
Any grass you have should be fertilized during the best time of the year for that particular grass; they don’t all have the same needs. Make sure you know what kind of grass is growing in your yard before you start fertilizing it, as some grasses don’t handle being fertilized in the spring very well. If you aren’t sure about the type of grass you have, you can plan to fertilize in June. That’s a happy medium for most types of grass and therefore a generally safe choice.
If you want to increase the nutrient absorption of your grass, choose an organic, slow-release fertilizer. This can help greatly increase the health of your soil, which will, in turn, lead to greener and stronger grass and a healthier lawn. Always make sure to follow the label on the fertilizer bag to know how much fertilizer to use.
If you over-fertilize a lawn, too many nutrients may be introduced into the soil. That could negatively affect the growth of your grass and plants. Under-fertilizing a lawn can be a problem, too, and can lead to thinning of the soil, which makes erosion more likely. Make sure to follow the directions to use just the right amount.
4. Control Any Weeds
With spring comes the return of weeds. You can use weed control treatments or follow weed control tips from our team at Landscape By Design. There are many different options to explore for keeping weeds out of your lawn, flower beds, and other areas. If you’re not sure what kind of treatment you want to use, a professional can help you find the option that works best for your situation.
5. Remove Debris
Raking up old leaves and branches is the first step to cleaning up your yard and flower beds. After that, you’ll want to use an edging tool. With this tool, you can create neat, natural edges around the beds that look clean and nice. This helps establish a division between the flower beds and the lawn itself.
6. Put Down Fresh Mulch
Put fresh mulch in the flower beds and around the trees. Make sure you don’t use too much; it shouldn’t be more than three inches deep. Fresh mulch helps keep the plants looking great, and also helps to retain moisture in the soil. Additionally, it keeps the roots cool during the hot summer months. Finally, as the mulch decomposes, it adds organic matter to the soil and keeps the plants healthier.
7. Make Sure Your Irrigation System is Functional
Turn on your irrigation system and make sure it’s working correctly. If you’re not sure how to accurately assess your irrigation system, a professional landscaping company can help you. After sitting dormant all winter long, your system could have problems you don’t yet realize exist, but these need to be repaired before you resume use.
8. Get Your Texas Lawn Spring and Summer Ready
This list may seem daunting, but we can help you be ready for spring and summer. Reach out to our expert team at Landscape by Design so that we can start working with you on a great new look for your landscape today. Whether you want to refresh what you have or change things up completely, we’re here with the ideas and knowledge to make your dream lawn a reality.