Who doesn’t love to have a beautiful garden that they can be proud of? With spring right around the corner, it’s time to get your yard in shape. With a little willpower and this easy and useful guide, your lawn will soon get ready for the growing season and thrive with a healthy and vigorous landscape. Put your gloves on and go transform it right now!

Get The Lawn Ready

The first step in getting your yard ready for spring is by taking care of the lawn.
The first step in getting your yard ready for spring is by taking care of the lawn. Source: Balcony Garden Web

Start your spring preparation with the basics and get the lawn ready for the new season by following these tips:

  • Use a rake to remove any leaves and other garden debris that may have accumulated over winter.
  • Spread a thin layer of aged compost on the lawn.
  • Re-seed bare patches in your lawn by spreading a mix of grass seed and compost or fertilizer over the surface, loosening it first.
  • Aerate the lawn to provide more oxygen, water, and nutrients. You can easily do it by attaching a soil conditioner product on your garden hose and spraying it on the yard.

Get The Plants In Shape

Take care of the plants you already have before planting new ones.
Take care of the plants you already have before planting new ones. Source: Country Living

After getting the lawn ready, it’s time to take care of the plants you already have. Start by fertilizing growing plants with compost, aged manure, or all-purpose organic fertilizer. Clear out weeds and garden debris from beds and borders and then apply a 2-inch layer of mulch (like compost, shredded bark, or leaves) around the base of plants, trees, and shrubs, to help maintain soil moisture and deter weeds.

Make Your Own Compost Pile

It's very easy to make your own compost pile.
It's very easy to make your own compost pile. Source: Worthminer

You can easily make your own compost pile by layering brown and green materials, at a 3-to-1 ratio, and add a little of soil between each layer. “What are these materials?” are you asking? Easy!

Carbon-rich materials are the “brown” sources, such as:

  • Garden trimmings
  • Dry leaves
  • Pine needles
  • Wood chips
  • Sawdust
  • Etc.

Nitrogen-rich materials are “green” sources, such as:

  • Grass clippings
  • Green leaves
  • Plant material
  • Manures
  • Kitchen wastes
  • Etc.

Get Your Gear Ready

Check your sprinklers to see if they are working properly.
Check your sprinklers to see if they are working properly. Source: Discover Outdoor Living

Now it’s also time to check up on your gardening gear. Start by checking the lawn mower and replacing the blade with a sharp one. A sharp blade will cut the grass rather than rip it (like a dull blade would) avoiding water loss and infections. It’s also good to check on your hand tools and equipment to see if any of them need repairing or cleaning. And most important of all: check your irrigation system to see if it’s working properly and offering good coverage.

Starting to Plant

Analyze your yard to see which plants fits best your space.
Analyze your yard to see which plants fits best your space. Source: Everyday Home Blog

Check the pH of your soil with a simple kit, easily found in garden centers and in home improvement stores. Most plants are more productive in a soil with a neutral pH, growing healthier and more resistant to diseases and insects.

When planting in smaller containers, loosen the root ball so that the plant roots can spread out easily into the soil.

If the soil you’re planting at drains poorly, try building a raised bed using a rich mixture of about two parts soil and one part compost, so that your vegetables and other plants can grow faster and easier.

Maintenance Is Key

Maintenance is one of the most important elements for a gorgeous yard.
Maintenance is one of the most important elements for a gorgeous yard. Source: Home Backyard    

To have a healthy and productive garden, keep in mind that maintenance is a key element.

  • Mow your lawn higher and more frequently, instead of harshly mowing it once in a while or only when it bothers you. The frequency results in a greener lawn saving you time and money, since it often produces a tougher turf that will suffer less with the summer heat and will keep away pesky weeds.
  • With new plants, keep the soil slightly moist at all times during the first growing season, until they become established.
  • Prune any broken, diseased or dead limb from any tree you have. Prune back spring blooming shrubs after flowering and trim up summer-blooming ones.
  • Attract birds to your garden to consume the bad bugs by including a birdbath as well as seed and fruit-bearing plants.

Anybody can have a beautiful and prominent yard as long as you have a little patience and a little of willpower. Take a few minutes each day to take care of your beautiful landscape and let the nature connect with your life! What do you think of these tips? Do you have anything to add? Let us know on our Facebook page or in the comments below!

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