Spring Maintenance Tips
[Article originally posted in 2019]
Proper maintenance of natural landscapes is essential to the long-term success of the functional aspects as well as the outward beauty that landscapes provide. LandStudies’ team of professionals includes expertise in proper year-round maintenance and offers these tips for maintaining landscapes in the Spring season.
- Trim back perennials – This is mostly an aesthetic choice but can give new plants space to grow. Consider saving the remaining seeds and allowing the trimmings to remain in your yard so that overwintering insects can emerge from the stems.
- Trim back grasses – If you haven’t trimmed back grasses yet, be careful if you do! The old growth might be hiding fresh growth underneath, so keep an eye out and cut carefully.
- Remove heavy leaf litter – A little is ok, as it will keep overwintering bugs and fresh seedlings protected during their tender stage.
- Pull out weeds – Do this while they are young, but make sure to not pull young natives that you want to keep! It is important to learn what the weeds look like since identification during early-stage growth can be difficult. They may be easier to identify when they get bigger, but make sure to pull them before they go to seed. Remember, it is okay if you miss some.
- Mulching – If you need to mulch, just use a little. Too much can keep seedlings from coming up, and discourage ground-nesting bees. If you do use mulch, aim for a half-inch or less. Using less will also save you money and time!
- Repairs – Check for and repair winter damage. Reseat plants that frost-heaved during the winter, and remove damaged stakes or branches on trees and shrubs.
- Pruning – You can prune in early spring, but it will vary per species. Additional information on pruning can be found here: https://www.arborday.org/trees/tips/when-to-prune.cfm
More information about LandStudies’ maintenance services can be found here.
More information about the importance of native species can be found here.
