Tips and Tricks to Help Your Lawn and Garden Shine This Spring

Spring is finally right around the corner. And after months of cold nights, heavy snow, and harsh winds, your yard and garden area are probably looking a little sad. Luckily, there are plenty of things you can do to get your lawn and garden ready for the warm seasons.

If you're one of the 90% of Americans with a yard who think it's important to make sure your yard is well-maintained, then this article is for you. This article is a compilation of some great tips you can utilize to help your garden bloom.

When the snow finally thaws and the sun begins to shine again, it's important to do a thorough inspection of your lawn area. When looking at your shrubs and trees, look for broken or damaged branches. These should be taken care of before spring comes into full swing to allow your foliage to grow properly. Furthermore, you should test your soil to ensure it has the necessary nutrients for your spring plants.

Additionally, during this inspection would be a great time to clean out your gutters. Gutters should be cleaned twice a year and after winter is a great time to do so. Brutal winter winds can cause all kinds of debris to get caught in your gutters and cause inefficient water drainage.

Fertilizing is something you may want to consider too. However, the need for fertilizing will depend on the results of your soil tests. It's important to ensure your plants and grass have the proper nutrients needed to thrive. Additionally, when you apply fertilizer will depend on the type of grass and plants you are growing. But slow-release lawn fertilizers are typically the best type to apply on your grass no matter the type.

And speaking of grass, it's important to rake your lawn early on in the spring season. In order to help high traffic areas on your lawn breathe easier, you should poke holes and break up the more dense areas of the lawn. This is also a good time to apply grass seed to any bare patches throughout your lawn. When adding seed, consider adding a nitrogen fertilizer to give the seeds an extra boost. If you live in a particularly dry area, it's important to remember to keep your lawn watered to promote proper growth. All of this lawn care preparation will help make sure your lawn is prepared to handle the hot summer ahead.

In the early spring months, you should mulch your flower beds and the base of any trees in your yard. While mulch makes your landscaping look nice, it also helps retain moisture. This, in turn, keeps your plants healthier and also acts as an insulator for their roots. One of the great things about mulch is that it comes in a variety of colors so you can choose a style that goes well with your home's exterior and the vegetation you plan on planting.

When it comes to choosing which flowers, shrubs, or trees you want to plant this spring, there are a lot of factors to consider. One of the first things you should consider is the climate in your area. Some plants and flowers thrive in direct sunlight while others need to be kept in a cooler temperature. This is important to think about so you don't have a bunch of pretty flowers that begin to wilt because they don't do well in direct sunlight.

Along with the climate, you should know which pests your plants will be subjected to. Wildlife, insects, and animals can quickly destroy what you worked so hard on. Because of this, you may want to plan for fencing or other deterrents depending on the type of pests in your area.

Additionally, you should have a landscape strategy before you begin to buy seeds and plants. Which areas of your lawn do you want to plant in? And how long is this project going to take you? If you're planning a massive landscaping overhaul, you may want to consult a landscape professional or your local nursery for some advice.

Once you have a plan in place, now comes the fun part -- buying and planting your new flowers, shrubs, and trees! Fortunately, it's pretty easy to buy seeds nowadays. In fact, seedlings can be ordered from a variety of suppliers and come ready for planting. Or if you have a local nursery nearby, that's a great place to start as well.

When planting, it's important to consider the time of the year. If you're wanting to get all of your planting done at once this spring, you should do some research and figure out which plants do best during the spring. Believe it or not, there are plenty of plants and trees that should be planted during the fall season. So ask your gardening pals about the types of flowers they usually plant during spring.

Another important factor to consider is growth. Hopefully, with the right water, sunshine, and a little TLC, your plants will bloom to their full potential. This is important to consider when choosing where to plant what. If you don't read the height and growth information before planting, you may end up with extremely tall, overcrowded shrubs covering up your windows.

With 75% of respondents to a Harris Poll survey for the National Association of Landscape Professionals agreeing that they think it's important to spend time in their yards, landscaping is an important task. So whether you have the greenest thumb possible or are just getting started with bringing your yard back to life, it's important to take your time in planning your landscaping.

Hopefully, this article provided some helpful tips to help get you started this spring. With a little research and a lot of patience, your lawn will be looking beautiful in no time.