The weather is warming up, which means spring is just around the corner! We can’t wait to get back to ‘outdoor living’ and enjoy the sunshine in anything that isn’t a bulky winter jacket. Buuuuut…. your yard still looks dead and like it’s in shambles. Here are some ways you can easily get your yard ready for the spring so you can admire your space while sipping your lemonade in the sunshine.
I also just want to put out there that I’m not an arborist or anything. Doing yard work and improving my outdoor space is just a hobby of mine!
1. Remove dead leaves
No matter how well we kept up with leaf blowing in the fall, there will always be a bunch of leaves left in the yard after the winter. I start the task of cleaning these up by raking out the bushes. I’ll even take out handfuls of leaves that are stuck in between branches to clean everything out as best I can. We all know the spots where leaves get trapped, whether it’s in the corner of fences or air conditioners – removing these piles will make your yard look well maintained. After tending to the flower beds and these hard-to-reach spots, it’s time to use the leaf blower to get anything left behind.
2. Trim bushes, plants, and trees
This is my favorite part of spring yard cleaning because it’s what makes the most difference. Ideally, if I’m on top of things, I will do this in the fall when everything starts to go dormant. I will trim plant stems as close to the ground as I can so they are off to a great start in the spring. However, I did absolutely nothing in the yard last fall because I was 8 months pregnant and juggling an 18-month-old, so now is the time I am cleaning everything up. I also like to trim any bushes or trees now because there are still no leaves on them (which makes cleaning up much easier!). Lastly, I also remove any annuals that were left behind from the previous year.
3. Lightly rake flower beds
I like to lightly rake out the flower beds and remove some of the old mulch, sticks, and twigs. You don’t have to rake away much of the mulch since this will break down on its own over time. I just remove enough so my flower beds don’t become built up when I lay down new mulch. Too much mulch is not good for plants, bushes, and trees because it can hold in too much moisture and won’t allow plants to grow well.
4. Mow the lawn at a low height
Wait until the temperature reaches a consistent 40 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s best to lower the mower height a couple of notches so you can pick up as much of the winter debris as possible. I also bag the grass clippings so it leaves room for new growth. Just to clarify, you’re not doing much grass-cutting during this first mow, you’re just using the lawn mower to pick up any debris in the yard. After the first couple of mows, you can take the bags off the mower and leave clippings on the ground if you choose. Clippings serve as a fertilizer for grass, hold in moisture, and help reduce weeds.
5. Rake the lawn
Raking is tough work. It would be great for the lawn if I could rake every inch of it by hand instead of using the lawn mower. However, I don’t have the time or patience to do this (I’ve got close to 2 acres of yard). I use a combination of the leaf blower and lawn mower, then rake the tough spots. By ‘tough’ spots, I mean the areas under big trees that get annihilated by sticks and acorns. I find that raking by hand is the most effective way of cleaning up these spots.
6. Add mulch
I do this after I am done with my spring yard cleaning. Since I have a large yard, I focus on doing it in sections so I don’t overwhelm myself – one flower bed at a time. I also don’t add too much mulch – a couple of inches is fine. If you don’t add enough, weeds can still push through, leaving you more work to do this summer, but if you add too much, it won’t let water get to the soil. Adding mulch makes your yard look clean and well-maintained.
7. Enjoy your space!
Sit out on your patio or deck or lay out a blanket on the grass and spend time in your outdoor space! Depending on where you live you may only get a couple of months to enjoy outdoor living, so make the most of it! I like to buy some annuals to plant around the mailbox or to hang in baskets for a little extra color. Little touches like these make all the difference when you sit back and admire your outdoor space. 🌿
