Getting the best lawn on the block means taking special care in spring to handle landscape maintenance tasks that will set you up for success the rest of the year. As you walk your property you may see that there are plants that need replacing, landscape beds that need cleaning out, and areas that could use more mulch.
Spring is a busy time in the landscape, and there’s lots to do to prepare your North Texas home for summer and beyond. And the thing is, many people find that there is so much to do outside that they could spend entire weekends doing the work. Getting help to manage the long list of yard maintenance tasks that should be completed in spring can take a load off your back.
So, what exactly is involved in spring landscape maintenance? Here is what landscape professionals do to get your landscape in shape. You can use this as your own spring yard maintenance checklist.
Inevitably, landscape beds end up collecting leaves during winter—even if you thought you had them raked out the last fall. Some trees drop leaves later in the season or during winter, so landscape beds can become a mess again by springtime.
Spring clean-up goes beyond leaves and includes picking up debris like sticks and brush that can get knocked off of trees and shrubs from the wind. Professionals that handle your landscape maintenance will also remove winter weeds from landscape beds so you can have a fresh canvas for plants, flowers and mulch.
Spring is a great time to prune and trim shrubs and ornamental trees. The benefit of spring pruning is that new plant growth will quickly fill in the spaces you cut back. New growth appears in March and April on photinias, hollies and pittosporum. Right before then is the best window of time to remove diseased, dying or dead branches—or to cut back branches in order to reshape plants. Because timing and technique are critical, you might want to consult with a professional landscape maintenance service for this task.
Prune crape myrtles in early spring before they bloom. Cut back suckers to the ground, and trim back branches at crossing points. Be sure to prune branches that touch your home or extend into walkways.
As for rose bushes, wait until the first bloom in spring to cut back climbers and ramblers. If you clip back rose bushes before then, you could reduce the size of your spring bloom.
A very important spring yard maintenance task is sprinkler system maintenance. Irrigation systems in North Texas stay on year-round, because watering in winter (once per month) is important for keeping landscape plants and grass healthy. So, your property doesn’t need an “irrigation start-up” like homeowners in northern states would. But, your Texas irrigation system should be thoroughly checked by a technician to identify any leaks or broken spray heads.
Spring landscape maintenance for your irrigation system also includes reviewing each station on the controller and making sure zones are working properly. We take a look at operating pressure—low pressure is a sign of a line break or missing sprinkler head. And speaking of spray heads, it’s a good idea to make sure that each is properly adjusted and covers the designated zone.
Filters on sprinklers that are not performing well should be checked and cleaned. Sometimes, this maintenance can prevent sprinkler replacement.
Finally, your sprinkler system run times need to be adjusted for warmer weather. Generally speaking, lawns should receive at least 1 inch of water per week to stay healthy. We recommend watering 3 days a week if possible and early morning is the best time. Your irrigation system should run 15 to 20 minutes for pop-up zones and 45+ minutes for rotor zones. If you like the idea of “set it and forget it,” rely on a pro to make these adjustments so you can eliminate the guesswork.
Are there plants in your landscape beds that have outgrown the space? What about plants that declined so significantly that it’s time to replace them? Or, perhaps you want to spruce up a landscape bed by trading out existing plants with different varieties. Spring is prime time to plant ornamental trees and shrubs because it’s still relatively cool out. Plants can establish before the temperatures heat up and soil dries out.
Talk with a pro, who will assess the existing plants and also point out opportunities to maximize the landscaping you already have. For example, flowering plants like asters and mums can be divided. You can also transplant any woody plants before they bloom.
Add color to your North Texas property with spring annual blooms. March is an ideal time to plant daisies, alyssum and geraniums. As temperatures increase, you can then add warm-season flowers. Some flowers that do well in hot, dry temperatures include salvia, sunflower, zinnia and marigold.
Plant shrubs like yew, crape myrtle, spirea and barberry in spring—they’ll tolerate our heat and drought conditions in summer through early fall. Not sure what to plant? A landscape professional can help you select varieties that are low-maintenance yet provide lots of beautiful color.
Mulch helps maintain soil temperature, moisture levels and can also prevent weeds. Ideally, you should add mulch to landscape beds at least annually. In spring, be sure landscape beds have 2 to 3 inches of mulch. (There is a right way to apply mulch, which is why many people like to hire a pro to do the job.)
There are different types of mulch you can choose, and the most popular are hardwood, cedar, and crushed pecan shells. What we like about shredded hardwood is its attractive appearance and it lasts through the season.
Keeping your lawn in shape during the growing season takes a pretty big commitment—and maybe more time than you actually want to spend doing yard work. In a perfect world, everything on this spring landscaping checklist is accomplished during March and April. But by May (and we hate to tell you this), the weeds you picked out of landscape beds could rear their ugly heads again. The plants you put into the ground will need ongoing care, and fast-growing shrubs will require trimming again. Not to mention, annuals in containers will need changed out, and landscape beds require edging, too.
We know, it’s a lot of work. If you hire a pro to help with landscape maintenance, you can keep your landscape looking its best the rest of the year without the frustration and time of dealing with weeds, pruning, edging, clean-up and plant change-outs.
Seriously, you deserve a break—and a pro to help keep your landscape in shape. Get a free quote for landscape maintenance and then enjoy the best lawn on the block!
