Stormy winter winds off the ocean have done a number on your property. Your yard needs spring-cleaning. Where do you start? We’ll help you get your landscaping ready for spring with lists and tips prepared by pros.
Start Here
Walking your property is the first thing to do when preparing your landscaping for spring. Look for:
• Damaged trees
• Hardscape deterioration
• Lightning damage
Broken tree branches, damage to retaining walls and stone pathways and non-working lights are dangers to you and your family and should be addressed first. We recommend hiring a professional landscaper handle these problems. Landscapers have the equipment to deal with broken branches in the tallest trees. Broken or dead branches and trees must be removed before they fall and leave you with an expensive roof or car repair.
A retaining wall with a foundation crack is a disaster waiting to happen. Scheduling an immediate repair will prevent a huge cleanup and the time and expense of rebuilding a collapsed wall.
Outdoor lighting always needs maintenance after a harsh coastal winter. If you have extensive lighting, let someone else do the job of cleaning fixtures and repairing and replacing components.
Sprucing Up Your Landscaping
When you’re going over your property, keep an eye out for major eyesores and problems like:
• Ragged or overgrown shrubs
• Areas of dead grass
• Holes in the ground
• Damaged fencing
Pruning and shaping up shrubs is an early spring necessity. Getting your shrubbery back in shape will give your landscaping an immediate lift and make the plant grow fuller foliage and more flowers.
A landscaper can overseed thin grass or seed an area with no grass. Landscapers can also protect grass seed from birds, squirrels and other wildlife.
Speaking of wildlife, holes in the ground mean that something is tunneling. The tunnels could be moles or rats. They could also be snake holes. Note where they are and show them to your landscaper. In addition to possibly housing vermin, extensive tunnels can cause soil collapse and injuries.
A damaged fence reduces your home’s curb appeal and doesn’t do its job of keeping your kids and pets in your yard and other pets in their own yards. If your fence is painted or stained, it may need cosmetic attention after a winter of scouring winds.
Improving Your Landscaping
Common post-winter landscaping issues are:
• Dead plants
• Soil erosion
• Additions to landscaping
You can address soil erosion in a couple of ways. You can replace soil, plant shrubs that help prevent erosion or do both. Everyone loses a few plants over winter, so planting flowering shrubs or attractive grasses is a good idea.
Have you been thinking about additions to your landscaping or even “redecorating?” Now is a great time to start prepping flower and garden beds and adding new plants.
Things to Remember:
• Look for dangerous winter damage
• Up your property’s curb appeal
• Deal with soil erosion
Appointment slots are filling up fast. Call or email us to reserve your time.