Spring is finally here, and while the warmer weather is a welcome change, your yard might not be quite as ready. After months of snow, wind, and freezing temps, most yards need a little reset before they’re ready for backyard season.
Post-Winter Rake
Raking after winter is an easy way to get your yard ready for spring. Raking away all the leaves, twigs, dead grass, and other debris from your lawn helps your yard grow and recover from the winter, according to Be Green.
Raking aerates the soil and improves air circulation and allows the sun to reach the grass. Clearing this debris also helps the shaded areas of your yard prevent mold and mildew growth that can cause damage. Some tips include gently raking, paying close attention to fence lines, under trees, and near garden beds where debris can easily pile up.
Watch For Widowmakers
According to Tall Timbers Tree Services, widowmakers are tree branches that are at risk of falling without warning and are oftentimes dead or dying. Physical injuries, property damage, and even death are some of the dangers associated with widowmakers. The first step of safety is paying attention to the trees in your yard by looking for dead or dying branches, cracks in the trunk, or signs of disease. Avoid placing communal areas like fireplaces or playgrounds under large trees, always be careful during inclement weather, and wear a helmet or eye protection when working under large trees. If you spot a widowmaker, call professionals to cut down the branches.
Loosen Up
It’s important to aerate your yard, especially here in Indiana where there’s clay, according to Cultivating Flora. Clay particles are tiny and compact very tightly when compressed by mowers, foot traffic, or heavy rainfall. Clay compaction can create challenges like poor drainage, shallow roots for grass and plants, thatch buildup, and slow water infiltration. Aeration can help with a lot of those problems by getting oxygen into the ground and water movement in the root zone.
There are three types of aeration: hollow-tine, spike, and liquid or biological alternatives. For hollow-tine, you’ll want the tines about 2-4 inches, with 3 inches being ideal for clay soils. Spike aeration includes pushing tines or forks into the ground which can temporarily create channels, but does not last very long due to clay compaction. Liquid or biological alternatives work best after cores are pulled and some organic matter is introduced.
As Indiana has mostly cool-season turf, aerating in early fall is the best time. However, the secondary window is early spring in March or April. Aerating your lawn should happen once or twice per year for high traffic areas or 2 to 3 years for less compacted soil.
Don't Fertilize Blindly
As your yard wakes up from its winter dormancy, the yard gets hungry for nutrients. According to Lawn Starter, fertilizing in spring helps with early root development and bright green top growth. The best time to fertilize is in April or May after the grass has greened after winter. You’ll want fertilizer with little to no nitrogen to avoid nitrogen burn and, to help control the weeds, you could use a weed and feed product.
Your yard will tell you when it needs to be fertilized by faded or yellowing grass, slow growth, bare spots or thinning turf, invasion of weeds and mosses, soil compaction, excessive thatch buildup.
Make The Bed
1. Stock the Shed
According to Cardinal Home Center, essentials for gardening include shovels, spades, forks, pruning shears, rakes, hoes, gloves, soil, compost, and fertilizer. You’ll also want to sharpen blades and make sure any tools you already have are not damaged.
2. Spring Clean
Clear out all the old and dead plants from the previous season, making sure the soil is moist before doing so. Shrubs, vines, and small trees should be pruned to allow the new growth to come in. For other perennials, remove damaged leaves or limbs. Once done, lightly rake away the debris and remove any weeds that may have sprout
3. Fluff the Dirt
Once the debris is gone and the soil is moist, turn the soil over at least 12 inches. During this, you’ll want to add compost to feed your garden, improve water retention, and lightens dense soil.
4. Make The Bed
Finally, it’s time to fertilize and mulch your garden. Fertilize one or two days before it’s supposed to rain, which helps break up the fertilizer. Be careful not to come into contact with the plants as the fertilizer may burn the leaves. A recommended fertilizer is the 10-10-10 blend of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium—a balanced blend that keeps your plants happy. When laying mulch, 2-4 inches of depth is recommended. Mulch that is too deep can attract insects and rodents and can contribute to excess moisture. There are two different types of mulch: organic and inorganic. It truly comes down to preference with organic mulch being less expensive and break down easily, whereas inorganic mulch prevents weed growth and looks great in larger projects.
Lawn Stripes
This spring, you may want to experiment with new ways to mow your lawn. Home Depot explains four different ways to decorate your lawn: straight, checkerboard and circles.It’s also healthy for your yard to go through mowing changes as mowing the same thing every time can create ruts and other uneven spots. Plus, you’ll get the bragging rights of having the best yard.
Straight
The first step is to remove any obstacles like branches, toys, or garden tools. Next, find a straight path to follow, usually a driveway, and mow the first stripe parallel to it. When you reach the end, make a tight right turn and mow in the opposite direction. Do that for the rest of your yard and if your turn marks are noticeable, simply mow a final strip around the edges to cover them
Checkerbaord
The first step is to remove any obstacles like branches, toys, or garden tools. Next, find a straight path to follow, usually a driveway, and mow the first stripe parallel to it. When you reach the end, make a tight right turn and mow in the opposite direction. Do that for the rest of your yard and if your turn marks are noticeable, simply mow a final strip around the edges to cover them
Circles
Start by going around the perimeter twice to provide a border. Then, turn off your mower and go to the center of the circle you want to start. Finally, make the smallest circle you can make and mow the next circle in the opposite direction with slight overlapping. Finish by mowing one final stripe around the edges of your yard.
