Now that winter is wrapping up in western North Carolina, it is a good time to begin thinking about spring weather and all the great things to do outside for this coming season! It is also time to start thinking about laying the proper foundation to help make your yard look great all season and into the summer. Here are some tips for preparing your landscape for spring:
Clean Up Debris
The first step to take is to pick up any debris left over from the winter. Grab a pair of work gloves and some rakes and scour the yard from one side to the next. First of all, pick up trash, large sticks, clumps of leaves, and dirt. Wear your gloves to avoid being hurt by broken glass or other sharp objects. The next step is to grab a rake and rake up the leaves and small twigs that have accumulated over the past winter. Work through the yard as well as garden beds or other landscaping features. This will ensure you have a blank canvas for planting and mulching.
Create Boundaries for the Lawn and Flower Beds
Once the yard is clean, you can begin mapping out the contours of your lawn, flower beds, and any other landscape feature you plan on incorporating into your yard. Edging your lawn is the process by which you create small, narrow ditches in between the features of your yard and the grass itself. Edging creates a boundary between the two and prevents weeds and grass from crossing over into your flower beds. It also makes mowing your yard easier since it levels the area between the lawn and the mulch.
Mulch
Mulching your beds and other landscape features is the best way to keep moisture in the soil and to prevent the growing of weeds. The mulch breaks down over time and then increases the soil’s health. Be aware there are a few ways to ensure the maximum efficiency of your mulch. Generally, one cubic yard of mulch will cover 100 square feet of yard up to about 3 inches. Organic mulch can be even healthier for your soil, and pine nuggets have longevity on flat surfaces since they take a while to decompose. On hilly terrain choose mulch that has a variety of nugget sizes to prevent them from easily washing away. Uniform sizes have a tendency to wash away easily.
Think About Your Grass
As you work through the above steps, it’s also wise to think about the main character in this drama: your grass. Although to the novice all grass is the same, it’s actually the opposite. There are thousands of grass species and it is important to grow the one which will thrive the best in your locale. Our local home improvement stores and landscaping businesses know the kinds of grass that do the best in our area. Once you have the grass species picked out, seed and reseed your yard, making sure to pay special attention to bare patches. Make sure the seeds get lots of water. As you maintain your yard in the spring, make sure to allow the grass to grow without mowing it too short. Let it grow to at least two inches for the first few cuts of the spring. Additionally, don’t apply too much fertilizer in the beginning of the season. After the grass initially grows, it’s ok to use more fertilizer later in the season.
Once you have everything ready for spring, you will be ready for all the fun the warm season has to offer, and your yard will be the centerpiece! Looking for a home in Western NC? Vista Developers can help you out! Just click the banner below to learn more about our homes and communities!
