Prep Your Lawn, Trees, and Shrubs for Spring Success

Gardening season has arrived! My top tips for welcoming new growth will bring gorgeous results all spring and summer.

As you’re getting garden-ready for the warm, bloom-filled spring and summer, don’t forget to show your lawn, trees, and shrubs some love, too! If your yard withstood a lot of severe weather during winter, it will really benefit from this pre-spring pick-me-up. I’ve narrowed down my yard prep to-do list to just five easy things that will have your lawn, trees, and shrubs ready to shine all season long. 

To enjoy a bright green and weed-free yard for the rest of the year, make sure that it’s nutrient-dense. A yard that is missing vital nutrients will not thrive when the heat arrives. Start with these three tasks: 

1.  Get your soil tested. This will tell you how much lime and other nutrients to put down and what type of fertilizer to use. The best way to get soil tested is to send a sample to Cooperative Extension Service (CSREES). CSREES is typically affiliated with a state university. 

2.  Apply pre-emergent before grass starts to grow again. Rather than killing already-thriving weeds, pre-emergent kills the weed seed before it even has a chance to germinate. The best time to do this is February through March. 

3.  Fertilize when the time is right. You won’t need to fertilize until your grass starts to wake up, but that will be here before you know it! The soil test will tell you exactly what needs to be added, but as a general rule you will always want to purchase fertilizer that is high in nitrogen, low in phosphorus, and medium to low in pot ash. If you haven’t already limed your soil, now is the time to do that! I like to do this in October, but if you missed the fall deadline, you can still apply it in early spring.

 Although your trees and shrubs might not be clamoring for attention like your grass, don’t ignore them completely. Giving them a little spring fix-up is vital!

4.  Make sure you prune trees and shrubs to cut back old or dead growth. This allows the plants to spend all their energy on new growth! 

5.  Fertilize them every three months during growing season. Trees need the extra boost of nutrients, especially as the ground begins to wake up from winter hibernation. Oaks, willows, ash, maples, pines, mulberries, yaupon, hollies, oleander, viburnum, boxwood, cleyera, spirea, nandina, and loropetalums are types of trees that especially need that extra boost! 

That’s it! Nothing too tedious or time-consuming—then, as warmer weather creeps back, pat yourself on the back and enjoy the fruits of your (little bit of) labor!