Improve Your curb Yard

Home Spring clean-up tasks include:

• Raking, clearing away branches, debris, etc.
• Mowing the lawn
• Remove old compostable material from the garden and flower beds
• Add edging the borders of the lawn
• Re-seeding any damaged areas in your yard
• Pruning and trimming trees and shrubs
• Aeration
• Spring fertilization

Yard Raking and Cleanup

Most lawns require a spring cleanup to remove debris. Raking up leaves and other organic materials will help ensure that your lawn gets the warmth and sunlight it requires to swiftly green up and thrive. Use should use a leaf rake and not a hard garden rake to make sure you’re gentle as not to damage the turf. Note any lawn areas that can be compacted and may need to be aerated) or dethatched.

Yard Fertilization

In the spring, you won’t always have to fertilize your lawn annually, especially if you applied last fall fertilizer. But depending on what kind of fertilizer program you are on; spring may be the right time to test your soil and check the nutrient levels that are accessible to the plants.

Cool-season grasses, once the grass is actively growing, it may benefit from a light fertilizer application in spring. Note that a fertilizer also includes some pre-emergent weed control, so you don’t want to over-fertilize. It is best to fertilize in late spring for warm-season grasses as soon as the lawn greens up and grows actively.

Yard Seeding

Cool seasonal grasses can be planted whenever the soil is not frozen and the soil is not too wet. Then the seed will start to germinate as the ground temperature get above 50 degrees. The goal is to plant as soon as conditions allow the grass to grow as long as possible before the stress of summer heat on it. Fall is the best time to plant cool grasses.

With a well-rounded yard maintenance plan, having your lawn in good condition entering into the winter, it may not need all these steps to be ready for spring.

Weed Control

Applying a pre-emergent herbicide application in the spring can be very beneficial for your lawn. You will want to use weed control as soon as the soil temperature is regularly over 55 degrees for control annual weeds such as crabgrass. If you are seeding your lawn, carefully select your herbicide as most will prevent grass seeds from germination.

Use Native Plants for Landscaping

One of the best and most important aspects of creating beautiful landscapes (and lawns) is to take advantage of native plant species. Native plants species not only do well in the mountainous areas Summit County and Eagle County but thrive.

Native plants and trees have evolved to live with the unique high altitude, local climate, various soil types and pests from native bacteria, fungi and animals. The good news is the process allows for a number of landscaping, lawn and gardening advantages. Summit County (Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, Dillon and Keystone) and Eagle County have a number of habitats that vary from Vail to Avon to Gypsum) and can be difficult, however using native plants can help you yard flourish with minimal care.

What are the benefits of Native Plants?

Native plants have adapted with the local climate, soil, and pests. They tend to thrive without the need for excessive water and nutrients found with non-native plants.

 

• Conserve more water
• Low Maintenance Landscaping
• Less Pesticides
• Wildlife Viewing
• Support Local Ecology