Spring has sprung, and spring ushers in long-awaited warm temperatures perfect for outdoor enjoyment. Here is a checklist to help get your spring planting season off to a great start with some landscaping tips, tricks, and best practices.

Lawn Care Maintenance Tips

Inspect your trees and shrubs

Start your Spring spruce up with a thorough inspection of your yard. Look for any branches that may be broken or damaged and prune them.

Test your soil

Once every few years make sure it has the proper pH and mix of nutrients. You can usually get your soil tested at your state's local agriculture extension office or any local nursery.

Fertilize your lawn

The decision about whether to fertilize should be based on the nutritional requirements needed by your soil conditions. Here are a few tips on fertilizing your lawn:

1. Determine your soil nutrient needs
2. Make sure you fertilize at the optimal time of year
3. Choose a slow-release or controlled-release fertilizer.

Fertilize your trees and shrubs

‍Most plants, trees, and shrubs will benefit from proper fertilization with a slow-release product just before mulch is applied.

Control weeds

‍Spring is a good time to apply pre-emergent weed control for weeds such as crabgrass. One hint on timing is that when forsythia is in full bloom, it’s the perfect time to apply a crabgrass weed prevent.

Make your planning beds tidy

‍Rake the old leaves from plant beds and create neat, natural edges around the beds using an edging tool. 

Add a layer of fresh mulch

‍Add a 1-inch-thick layer of fresh mulch around trees making sure that the mulch does not touch tree trunks and never let the mulch accumulate over 3 inches. In-plant beds add a 2-to-3-inch layer of fresh mulch. 

Inspect your irrigation system

Once the weather has warmed up for the year, turn on your irrigation system and inspect it to see if it’s in working condition. This can be done by your landscaper or irrigation company.

Planting Flowers Tips

Spring is the most popular time to plant flowers, however, it’s not the only time. 

Planting annuals

‍Annuals are flowers that grow and die in a single season. Therefore, they must be planted every year. The best time to plant annuals is relatively early in the pring after there is no longer any threat of frost – in the DMV area that time is usually after May . 

Planting perennials

‍Perennials can potentially be planted in the Spring or Fall. In the early Spring (even before the threat of frost has completely gone away), perennials can be planted. However, in the Fall when the weather begins to cool but the soil is still warm, is a great time for planting perennials.

Planting bulbs

There is a window of opportunity during which you need to plant bulbs so it does require some planning ahead. Several different bulbs need to be planted in the Fall to have springtime color. These include tulips, daffodils, irises, and lilies. Some lilies actually won't bloom until summer. However, their beauty is worth the wait!

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Mr. Mazzei has extensive experience in the areas of maintenance management, landscaping, information technology, purchasing and site rehabilitation. He has a BA in Horticulture from Davis & Elkins College. Mr. Mazzei holds the CMCA®, AMS®, PCAM® designations.

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