Like most homeowners with backyards, you’re probably worried about the condition of your yard after winter. Despite the cold, dry air, and freezing temperatures, your garden probably looks worse for the wear when spring arrives.
But don’t worry – there’s a way to breathe some life back into your yard come springtime. Below are some helpful tips and tricks you can use when the new season arrives:
Tip #1 Clear away any debris in your yard
The first step to reviving your backyard is removing all the dead leaves, twigs, and other debris from your yard. With the cold weather, they’re probably dry and brittle, so you’ll need to use extra caution. Don’t forget to remove any furniture or decorations that you don’t want anymore.
If there’s a lot of junk in your backyard, it will be difficult for new plants to grow. So, it’s best to remove everything. You can then recycle or throw away the junk in your yard, and start with a completely fresh slate.
Tip #2 Prepare your soil for planting
When the ground has thawed and you’re ready to plant, it’s a good idea to prep your soil beforehand. To prepare it for planting, add in a bit of fertilizer and some peat moss to help enrich the soil. This way, your plants will be off to a strong start.
Tip #3 Prune away dead or dying plants
Once you’ve weeded out all the debris in your backyard, it’s time to prune. If you have any plants that are dead or dying, get rid of them right away. If not, they’ll take up precious space and nutrients that could be better used by your new seeds or plants.
Tip #4 Buy some new plants
Before you can buy any new plants, you’ll need to determine what kind of landscape your backyard currently has. If there is already a landscape and garden in place, then you’ll need to design a new landscape based around it. If you have a blank slate, though, then you can create a landscape from scratch.
Or if you don’t have the green thumb, you can always hire landscape contractors to do the work for you. Either way, once you have a design in mind, it should be much easier to choose the plants that go into your landscape.
Tip #5 Be wary of brown patches and overgrown trees
Once you’ve bought all of your plants, and they’re in their new home, keep an eye out for brown patches or overgrown plants. They can both be signs of trouble. Brown patches in your landscape may indicate that bugs or fungi are living in the soil, which will need to be dealt with as soon as possible.
Overgrown trees may also need to be trimmed down a bit since they can take up a lot of room and block sunlight. This is especially true if your yard isn’t very large. It’s also important to note that some plants just don’t work well together, so be wary of that before you go planting everything.
Tip #6 Rake away the leaves once they fall
Depending on your climate, you may have to deal with leaves falling in your garden during the winter. If this is the case, you should rake them away once they fall. This way, they won’t block sunlight and make it difficult for your plants to grow.
If there are a lot of leaves falling in your garden, you may want to consider clearing the leaves away weekly. By doing so, you’ll be able to keep your garden clean and ready for the new season.
Tip #7 Water your plants once they’re in place
Once you have all of your plants in place, it’s time to water them. For this task, you’ll need a hose or soft sprayer. Soak the soil around your plants for a good thirty minutes before you turn off the water.
If there isn’t much rainfall in your area, then this may be something you’ll have to do daily until the plants are established. Once they’re established, though, hopefully, you can reduce the amount of water they receive.
Tip #8 Clean up your lawn before you mow it
It’s best to wait until your grass has completely dried out before you mow it. If the grass is still soaked while you trim, you may wind up with a disease called “wet grass.” Wet grass can be deadly to your lawn because it breeds fungi that can spread easily to most plants.
So, to avoid a wet grass problem, wait until the morning after a rainfall to cut your lawn. This way, you can be sure that it’s completely dry and won’t lead to any problems. Of course, an artificial lawn from a supplier like Perth Artificial Grass (or one wherever you are) makes for a very good alternative and requires very little in terms of maintenance, so you don’t have to worry as much about it.
By following the steps above, your yard should be looking its best in no time. Keep in mind that some of these tips may need to be repeated on a monthly or yearly basis, but overall they’re pretty easy to follow. So go ahead and get started – your backyard will thank you for it!
