Like the seasons themselves, a yard’s needs change throughout the year. Transitioning from spring to summer requires a certain approach. Landscape contractors Jenn Nawada and Lee Gilliam explain what homeowners should do to help their yards transition smoothly.
Clean-Up, Mulching, and Installations
Spring starts with cleaning up the debris from over the winter. But, some homeowners prefer to wait a little longer, until the pollen settles, to clean up their yards and install mulch. It’s also a good time to install annuals.
Garden Beds First
Be sure to cut in your garden beds first to give them a fresh, sharp line between the mulch and the grass. Leaf or hemlock mulch offers a rich, dark color, and it will break down to enrich the soil.
Do Some Light Pruning
Some plants can benefit from a late spring pruning. Rhododendrons, azaleas, and lilacs are ready for light pruning. Also, cut back the early spring tulips but leave daffodils as they are.
Prepare Your Irrigation for the Season Ahead
Get your irrigation system ready for summer. First, blow out any debris, then inspect all of the heads to ensure they’re working properly. Also, set up the timing for the appropriate time of year. Morning watering is best, but summer might require longer watering windows. Remember, deep watering is better than short, frequent watering.
Lawn Care
After putting down pre-emergent earlier in the season, it’s time to prepare the lawn for summer. Aerate the soil and apply nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizer to help sustain the lawn through the stresses of summer.
Resources
For lawns, Lee would recommend using a slow-release fertilizer for established lawns to promote balanced growth and help prevent lawns from burning in the summer heat.
It’s also a good time to apply pre-emergent weed control for weeds such as crabgrass.