With spring upon us, it is time to start thinking about how to prep your lawn and get your landscaping in shape for summer. There is lots to do, but with proper planning, timing and maintenance, Memphis Landscape can help you can create a beautiful and attractive environment for your home or business. Before we get started on any other outdoor projects, there is some spring cleaning that will make this year’s lawn care and landscaping maintenance go far more smoothly.

Regular landscape maintenance is a big job that requires consistent attention. Once all of the plants starts to grow and the critters and pests return, just getting started on this year’s landscaping plans becomes very labor intensive. Preparing for the warmer months now can effectively eliminate many of the lawn care and landscaping problems that might pose a challenge over the course of the year.

Here at Memphis Landscape we have put together a few tips to prepare your property’s landscape to be healthy and attractive all year round.

Spring Lawn Clean Up

When the snow from our big winter storm melted, it left in its wake a lot of debris built up from last fall. Sticks, leaves, broken branches, dead plants, and garbage will all need to be cleaned up and disposed of properly as part of early spring lawn care. You can spend your weekend bagging them up for the curb, or you can call us at Memphis Landscape to come take care of the dirty work for you!

Aerating Your Lawn

Sometimes overlooked when discussing spring lawn cleanup, aerating the lawn can help to rejuvenate your property’s soil and grass. It encourages new growth and helps heal any areas damaged by compaction or heavy use. Aeration means creating small holes in the sod and removing plugs of soil which allows nutrients, air, and water to reach the roots.

Pruning and Trimming

Get out those tools for clipping, pruning, and edging. Your perennials and trees can all benefit from a good, healthy trimming. At Memphis Landscape we focus on older growth and anything that looks damaged or diseased – this encourages the plant to put energy into new growth and helps to keep your plants from growing too large. Removing any unhealthy growth reduces the potential for disease and keeps the flora healthier.
If you want to prepare your landscape for spring, edging is a must. Edging helps  define the line between your landscaping and lawn. Edging prevents your grass from growing into your beds, and keep them both looking neater. Clean edging gives your landscape a sharp and well manicured appearance.

Planning Pest Control

Instilling preventative measures that deal with common wildlife pests will keep your landscape looking its best, and also save you a lot of trouble over the course of the year. Insects like ants, grub worms, mosquitoes, wasps, and other stinging insects create headaches in their own unique ways.

Some animals can create major problems, including property damage and burrowing holes into the grass. Memphis Landscape will check for any existing tunnels and fill them in – you want to avoid having holes around that people can step in and twist an ankle! We can install and repair fences and wire mesh where needed to keep other large mammals away from sensitive plantings.

Effective Weed Solutions

Weeds are the ultimate headache and a great reason to be proactive about early spring lawn care and landscaping maintenance. They begin growing and can quickly take over.

Pre-emergent herbicides act as a barrier to potential weeds already lurking in your existing beds by inhibiting them from germinating. Applying it before mulch in early spring can make all the difference.

Mulch

Heavy mulching is a great way to bury weed seed and tiny weeds before they become big enough to cause problems. Unfortunately, weeds that are already mature likely will not be affected by this technique because they have built up the resources to grow right through the mulch layer. Mulch is a great way to keep plants watered because it locks in the moisture at the base of the plant. Mulching around plants, trees and in gardens does not just look good—it can mean the difference between healthy, vibrant plants, and plants that struggle to stay alive.

Fertilizer & Compost

Fertilizing helps repair damaged spots in your lawn, and can add a much needed boost to your small trees, shrubs, and perennials. When we fertilize, Memphis Landscape also seeds the lawn for lush, consistent growth.

Composting is a fantastic way to eliminate yard waste, take care of the environment, save money on gardening, and reduce waste disposal costs. In addition to fertilizer, you can use compost to feed your landscape plants and gardens. Start a compost pile now, or add to the one you currently have going. Turn over and expose the interior of the pile in the early spring so it will be ready when your gardens are in full bloom.

Transplanting

Any new plants and trees that you want to incorporate into your property’s landscape should be transplanted now. Planting in early spring allows the roots to firmly establish themselves, offering enough time to strengthen and grow into the earth before the next cold season begins.

De-Winterize Your Sprinkler System

Do not forget to prepare your sprinkler system for the warm weather by having Memphis Landscape give it a tuneup. After the last winter freeze, sprinkler systems need to be drained, brought back online, and tested for leaks.

If you are ready to prepare your lawn for spring, call Memphis Landscape. We are a full service landscaping company— providing maintenance, irrigation, pest control, design, and construction. If you are in the Mid-South area, get your free quote today by giving us a call at 901-343-6400. We are here to help you grow!