Spring Clean Up - A Landscapers Perspective

Jeff Smith

Lynden Lawn Care Inc.

Spring Clean Up - A Landscaper’s Perspective

Now that we are finally through the darkest days of winter, we know the warm sunny days of spring are just around the corner. Spring is a fantastic time to start planning for a successful landscaping season. Whether you're a larger suburban condominium or innercity low rise with just a courtyard or tree well, the lawn, trees and flowers around your landscape need regular spring maintenance to stay healthy and vibrant all season long.

Once the snow melts and the temperatures start to rise its time to have a look over the property for any surprises winter may have left behind. A spring meeting can be a great place to meet with board members to review the property and discuss the season ahead. This is also a good time to discuss any changes or improvements they would like to make so a plan can be put in place early.

The first order of business during a spring walkaround is always to address any damage caused by winter maintenance operations. Some things you may look for: • Scraped up or damaged turf along driveways or sidewalks • Chipped or damaged curb lines • Loosened asphalt • Salt damage along hard surfaces These are all common and often unavoidable consequences of a busy winter. These items are easily repaired and when done early do not affect the curb appeal of the property later in the season.

Landscapers often strive to provide a full and thorough cleanup in the fall however, this is often interrupted by early season snow or stubborn trees that retain leaves late into the winter. This makes the first order of business a thorough spring “cleaning” to remove accumulated

winter debris and lay the foundation of a successful landscaping season. Special attention should be directed toward window wells, culverts, drains and any other area where debris can affect drainage systems around the property. During winters of heavy precipitation snow mold may often reveal itself as snow melts which can be remedied as part of spring cleanup. Removal of down branches, sticks and leaves from all turf areas prepare the lawn for spring treatments such as fertilizer, dethatching and aeration all of which provide a healthy jump start for any turf areas around the property.

Garden beds are another landscape element that benefit from proper spring maintenance. Once the ground has firmed up following snowmelt its important to inspect gardens for any plant material that may have perished over the winter. Removing expired perennials and debris will make way for the new growth to emerge without issue. Removing any decaying organic matter also helps reduce the likelihood of any pests or fungi that may have found refuge over winter. A deep cultivation of soil garden beds helps alleviate compaction from winter precipitation and allows oxygen and water to easily nourish plants and shrubs.

Mulched garden beds benefit from a thorough raking and fluff which freshens the upper layers and alleviates any compaction. Spring is a great time to top up mulch which provides a clean look but also seals in moisture and keeps ground temperatures cool during the hot summer days.

An important item that is often overlooked during spring planning is the splitting, thinning and moving of overgrown or misplaced perennials. When new growth is emerging from the ground it is easier to see what you are doing and locate the specific perennial you intend to relocate. With smaller leaves and shoots there is also less damage caused to the plant during the spring season. Some perennials such as spring blooming varieties benefit from fall splitting and trans“ An important item that is often overlooked during spring planning is the splitting, thinning and moving of overgrown or misplaced perennials.

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planting so it is best to follow your landscape contractor’s advice for the specific perennials you’re looking to tend to.

Once the gardens have been cleaned of debris and properly cultivated a nice sharp edge puts a clean definition between garden and turf. This provides a durable edge which is easy to maintain all season long. Spring is also an excellent time to pay special attention to hard surface edging. Often turf overgrows hard surfaces such as driveways, sidewalks and patios which is quickly cleaned up by a hard surface edge.

Spring is a beautiful time of year when days grow longer, temperatures are on the rise and our landscapes come to life. Discussing a landscape plan with your contractor for the seasons to follow will make sure your property is on the right track to thrive all year long.

Jeff Smith is the President of the landscape maintenance firm Lynden Lawn Care Inc. He is currently an active board member of Landscape Ontario (Golden Horseshoe chapter) and past President from 2014 –2017. Jeff founded Lynden Lawn Care Inc in 2008 and has been in the landscaping industry for over 15 years.