The sun is beginning to come out and we are finally beginning to see the other side of the winter season. Now that spring is on the way it is time to begin thinking about what springtime means for you. For some, springtime means creating an endless spring-cleaning list and for others it means breaking out the garden tools and seeds. Whether you have a small backyard garden space or a huge lawn, the spring season will definitely have outdoor care implications if you are a homeowner. Here are some considerations for you to make:
Start Seeding Early
If you plan on beginning your garden from seed, then the very end of winter and beginning of the springtime is ideal for beginning your seeding. Although it may seem daunting to begin your entire garden from seed, if you begin with enough lead time you will have more than enough time to get all your starters set up prior to the true growing season.
This way, as soon as the weather warms up, you will be able to transplant your plants to the outdoors and you will have a much more productive garden than if you wait and start your seeds outside after spring has sprung.
Keep in mind that certain garden plants prefer to germinate in cooler soil and then are not ready until the early summer. This means the sooner you plant things like peas, artichokes, and potatoes, the more fruitful your harvest will be.
Know What to Plant to Bloom All Season
Different flowers thrive at different points throughout the season and some even thrive well into the summer and fall. Pansies, for example, thrive early in the spring because they enjoy the cool weather, so they make a flower to plant early in the season. Later in the season you will see other flowers shining including tulips, lilies, and roses, but these are later seasonal bloomers. When you get to know which flowers bloom at which points throughout the season you can strategically plan your garden for season-long blooms.
Make Sure You Have a Lawn Care Plan in Place
Although early on in the season you may be putting a lot of your time and energy into preparing your garden and your overall landscape, you should also be thinking about your lawn and its spring and summer needs as well. Make sure that you consider lawn management needs not only going into the spring but throughout the season as well. Will you need to seed and fertilize your lawn? How often will you need to mow? Once your garden is set and growing most of your time will go to regular lawn care.
Maintain your Hardscaping Elements
While you are focused on spring cleaning and gardening you should also think about maintaining the hardscaping elements around your yard and garden. Walk your paths, edging, fences, stonework, outdoor furniture, and other hardscaping elements to see if there is any fall and winter wear that requires repair or maintenance. While you are at it, take a look at gutters, downspouts, and other drainage points on your property before the first spring rain. Now is also a good time to clean out and fill up your bird feeders, or to hang them up if you took them down last season.
You should be starting out the spring with everything looking and feeling as fresh and clean as possible. The best way to do this is to perform maintenance and repairs early so that these tasks are out of the way.
Conclusion
There is a lot to do in preparation for the springtime, so it is ideal to make a checklist and work through the list as you prepare your lawn and garden for the coming season. The springtime can mean a lot for your garden including new growth, fresh fruits and vegetables, fragrant flowers, and a beautiful lawn, as long as you are willing to put in the work to get there.
