As winter draws toward a close, it’s time to start looking forward to spring yard care tasks. In late February and March, the weather starts to warm and you’ll be able to get out into the garden and lawn more. Just make sure you wait to do any major yard and garden work until the soil has started to dry out. In the meantime, tune-up your lawn equipment and make sure everything is ready for spring yard cleaning.
Spring Tune-Up
Before turning on equipment like lawnmowers and trimmers for the first time this spring, give it a quick look-over. Clean off any accumulated dust, or dirt and grass clippings from last year. Clean around the spark plug cylinder, then remove the plug and check it for damage. If the plug is intact, clean and replace. If not, change it out for a new spark plug. Clean and/or replace fuel, oil and air filters as well.
Check the owners manual to find out what type of grease is recommended by the manufacturer, then grease every fitting with a grease gun. Change the oil (if needed), then fill the tank up with new gasoline and try to start the engine. If it starts, you’re ready to go this spring. If you’re having any problems with your lawn equipment, bring it to our service department and have one of our factory certified Outdoor Power Equipment (OPE) technicians take a look.
Early Lawn Care
Begin spring lawn care by raking up leaves and any debris that accumulated on the lawn during the winter. Raking also fluffs up the grass leaves and encourages new growth. If there are piles of snow sitting around, spread them out with a shovel so they will melt faster and not smother the grass. Start mowing the grass as soon as it starts growing, removing only 1/3 of the overall leaf height at a time.
To control weeds that sprout in the spring, apply pre-emergent herbicides about 2 to 3 weeks before the time of year you usually start noticing weed growth. A more precise guideline is to apply per-emergents when the top 1 inch of soil has stayed at or above 55 degrees Fahrenheit for five days in a row. If you want to re-plant any bare spots in the lawn with grass seed, skip the pre-emergents for this year. They will stop grass seed sprouting along with the weed seeds.
Garden Prep
Before plants start growing is a good time to get in and repair any damaged hardscaping in the flower beds. Replace or fix damaged boards on raised beds, fences and trellises now, while the plants are dormant and you’re less likely to damage new growth. If you left the dried leaves and stalks from perennials and ornamental grasses in the garden over winter, trim and rake the dead plant matter out now to make way for growing plants.
Once garden soil is free of ice crystals and dry enough to crumble easily, use a tiller to work the soil deep enough to plant seedlings and root vegetables. You can start planting cool-weather vegetables like salad greens, peas and leeks as soon as the soil is workable. About a week before the last frost date in your area, start planting other cool-weather vegetables like broccoli, cabbage, potatoes and onions.
