Where to Start With Spring Gardening

Everyone loves spring. The flowers are blooming, birds are chirping and life is all around us. But, as Winter rolls back it's blanket, it reveals the mess that has become your lawn. Matted grass patches, old leaves and dirt piles along the curbs dominate our properties. We don't like it but we all know what time it is. Time for spring cleaning.

Cleaning up your yard after a hard winter is definitely work but the experience can also be rewarding, especially if you know what to do to cut down on time. Let's start with the basics.

Raking

Raking is always task number one in terms of spring clean up. Sometimes leaves from the previous season or littered garbage can cover portions of your lawn. Raking all the refuse into bags allows your lawn to breathe and reveals any compressed patches or dead spots on your lawn. It's never too early, when the snow is gone feel free to get started.

Reseed dead and thinning patches on your lawn accordingly making sure to seed with the same type of grass as the existing plot. We don't want bluegrass in a sea of green now do we? Also, take the time to rake out clumps of snow compressed grass. These matted areas can create something called snow mold and can prevent new grass blades from reaching sunlight. Remember, a lawn that can breathe is a lawn that can seed.

Mulching

All those leaves and organic materials, minus the garbage of course, can be put to good use. If you have the energy mulching can add nutrients to your soil and increase the beauty of your garden. In simple terms mulching means crushed and shredded leaves and plant matter.

Once the raking is done it is a simple task to take the refuse and shred it through a lawnmower or mulching machinery taking extra precautions to keep children and extremities away from the mulch area.
The benefits of mulching include soil enrichment, weed management, money savings and even water retention making for healthy and cheaper garden beds on your property. The most popular uses for this mulch is in soil and on the surface of gardens to create a more appealing look.

One thing to remember when applying mulch to your yard is that too much can be a hazard. Covering over grass or other plants can screen them from the requisite amount of sunlight in order to grow healthily. Only apply a single layer leaving enough area for light to penetrate to the ground. Mulch used to top gardens can be used more liberally, especially after plants have begun to sprout beyond the ground line.

Composting

Composting is easy enough it just takes a little time, but if you prepare for it your garden can have nutrient rich soil on a regular basis completely free of charge.

Essentially composting is nature recycling materials back into soil. Also known as decomposition, we harness the benefits of newly broken down organic materials for use as a soil enrichment ingredient.

Most backyard composting is done in a compost container or box allowing for layers of organic material to be put on top of one another, using sunlight and the elements to speed up the decomposition process. According to reports almost 50 per cent of our waste could be composted.

Fresh compost should be some of the most fertile and nutrient rich material you use in your gardens and on your lawn.

Using all of these simple lawn and gardening tips can help prepare your lawn for a healthy season, save you money, give you exercise and promote garden growth. This story is the first in a series of ‘Spring Cleanup' stories. Check back every few days for the latest tips in lawn and garden maintenance and care. Part two will be on seeding, reseeding, patching and lawn fertilizer. Stay tuned and happy gardening!