The birdsong? What happened to the birdsong? Were they not singing and perhaps giggling at our misfortune? Stupid birds. They were mocking us at best and warning us at worst. Spring is clearly for the birds…not for us.
We’re in the midst of record-breaking, cold temperatures with the threat of measurable snow this weekend. The soonest we might experience temps over 30 degrees is the following Friday, which puts us into the first week of March. I have a distinct and somewhat unsettling feeling that we will skip Spring all together and find ourselves in the heat of summer with no transition period whatsoever. Nature is funny that way. She seems to seek balance when clearly winter has perpetually tipped the scales in its favor.
Ok, so maybe we get a Spring and maybe we don’t, but it doesn’t change the fact that our lawns and gardens will require a Spring Clean Up. The name may be a bit of a misnomer, but the need and process remains the same. It’s important to start the season off with our best foot forward, so we can get out-of-the-way, and let nature take its course. Why exactly is this needed and what exactly is involved? Let’s explore.
The landscape, for the most part, has been to left to slumber for the last 5-6 months. Further still, the landscape has been mostly covered in snow and ice, so we haven’t even been able to peek at the lawn and beds beneath. Spring Clean Ups are an important part of a landscape’s maintenance program, and may include the following:
- Rake out accumulated leaves and debris from planting beds and lawns.
- Prune out damaged, weak, and/or crossing limbs in shrubs. Stay clear of spring blooming shrubs. It’s best to wait until after they bloom.
- Cut back perennials and grasses.
- Consider fertilizing perennials, shrubs, and trees.
- Mulch beds and tree rings.
- Inspect plants for winter damage.
Once your landscape has been tidied up, you’ll feel good knowing you’re starting the season with a neat, clean, and healthy pallet, which will be ready to inspire and amaze you all season long.
“I am thankful for a lawn that needs mowing, windows that need cleaning, and gutters that need fixing because it means I have a home. I am thankful for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means my loved ones are nearby.”
– Nancie J. Carmody
Best wishes,
Kim Sweeney