The snow has mostly melted and the days are getting longer. Yes, it’s true, spring has actually arrived here in Maine.

With spring’s arrival comes the thought of getting your yard and garden ready for the warm weather. So, naturally, we wanted to share with you some of the plants that work well for spring planting in Maine. Our list of recommendations, courtesy of Owner Justin Hayden, contains flowers in a variety of colors and sizes, so there are options for every garden.

Coreopsis (golden glow):

This golden yellow flower can grow to heights as tall as ten inches and will last until late fall. If you’re looking for a flower to fill up a large space in your yard with color, golden glow is a good option. Plus, golden glow is a perennial that also transplants well.

Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower):

A perennial, the purple coneflower can be planted in spring but will bloom in late-summer/fall. As its name suggests, it is a pink-purple color. The flower can grow up to three feet tall, and will help attract hummingbirds and butterflies to your yard.

Rudbeckia (black-eyed Susan):

The black-eyed Susan is a bright yellow flower with a dark center that can add color to your yard right up until the fall. There are many different varieties of black-eyed Susans, so you can pick and choose which size and which flowering type are best suited for your garden and for your gardening schedule.

Lupine:

Lupines are a favorite in Maine. Once late spring hits, the lupine’s tall, colorful flowers can be spotted everywhere from roadsides to meadows to gardens. You can plant lupines either by sowing seeds or by getting permission from a landowner to dig up and transplant wild lupines into your garden. Lupines are perennials, but generally will not bloom in the first year of planting.

Bloodroot

Native to our eastern region, the bloodroot flower has white petals and a yellow center. The flowers will bloom earlier than others in your garden, making them a good option for gardeners looking to get their yards looking cheerful as early as possible.

Iris:

There are hundreds of varieties of iris flowers, but the most common one found in gardens is the iris germanica, which can grow over two feet tall and stand out above other plants in your yard. A bright and hardy perennial, the iris is a great choice for Maine gardens.

Grape hyacinth:

The grape hyacinth earns its name due to its blue-purple bulbous flowers that just so happen to look like grapes. The plant blooms early in the spring, so it can add a pop of color and a unique looking flower to your garden before other flowers start to bloom.

Daffodils:

One of the most cheerful flowers, the bright yellow daffodil can bring life to any garden. They are an easy-to-grow perennial, but if you want them to bloom in the spring you will need to plant the bulbs in the fall. Start planning ahead for next year!

Tulips:

Like daffodils, tulip bulbs should be planted in the fall. If you have some sprouting up in your garden, expect them to re-arrive every year as they are a perennial. If you like to have an early harbinger of spring, it’s worth planting tulips in your yard in the fall. Tulips are one of the first flowers to bloom.

Pansy:

A smaller plant, pansies come in a wide variety of colors, so you can pick and choose the flowers that will fit best with the overall color scheme of your garden.

Lilac:

The scent of lilac trees beginning to bloom is a sure sign that the warmer weather has arrived to Maine. Lilacs are most often found in white and purple varieties, but do come in seven different colors. The trees can grow as tall as 15 feet, so not only can they add a lovely burst of color to a spring yard, but they could be used in some of the ways you might consider using more traditional shrubbery – privacy, growth near a boundary line, etc.

Even though we live in a colder climate, we still have many options for keeping our yards and gardens beautiful in Maine. Once winter is over, it’s worth it to celebrate by creating colorful, vibrant landscapes in your yard.

When the long winter ends in Maine, you want to be outside enjoying the warmer weather…and that means you need your yard to be spruced up! Raking old leaves and planting flowers is a good start, but making sure your lawn and garden beds are healthy and looking great takes a few more steps.

At AC Yard Services, we’ve been working to recover Maine lawns and properties from winter for over a decade. Over the years, we’ve been able to compile some tips for revitalizing your property in the spring, and we wanted to share them with you.

As you start working on waking up your property from winter, here are things to think about from our owner, Justin Hayden, to get you started:

1. Prepare your lawn for growing season by removing debris and raking to remove any accumulated thatch. Lawn thatch is the layer of dead turf grass tissue between the green vegetation and the soil surface that must be removed (a process known as “dethatching”) to maintain lawn health. Thatch consists of stems, leaves, stolons, rhizomes and roots. If this is something you want to tackle on your own, we suggest renting a power rake to get the job done. If dethatching isn’t a project you want to take on yourself, AC Yard Services can help with our spring dethatching services.

2. Review your lawn looking for grass blades that look stuck or glued together. This can be caused by a disease known as “snow mold.” Luckily, only a little bit of raking is needed to remedy this situation.

3. Don’t forget about your inside greenery, either! Houseplants need a little attention in the spring as they are “waking up” with the longer days and brighter light. A haircut (cutting back), some fresh soil, some 1/2-strength organic fertilizer and a shower are all things that can help make your houseplants happy.

4. Have your lawn mower serviced before use. Sharpening and balancing the blade(s) will keep your mower working to its full potential, and will ensure it doesn’t quit on you right before that first big barbecue of the year.

5. Think small! If you’re looking to add some larger greenery to your yard, plant smaller trees as the root system will establish quicker than a newly planted larger tree.

6. Do you have too much moss in your yard? Moss grows in a lawn where dense shade, low soil fertility, poor drainage, wet soil, compacted soil and/or poor air circulation exist. The best way to address moss problems it to improve the soil for grass growth. Doing so will create a healthier and more attractive lawn overall.

7. Deep watering: As you get your gardens going in the spring, water plants slowly and deeply using a soaker hose once a week, instead of watering frequently for short periods. What’s the advantage? Deep watering promotes deep plant roots.

8. Pass on compost and fertilizer. Leaving them both out helps roots become acclimated to the native soil. When planting trees and shrubs, soil does not need to be amended with compost or fertilizer, unless the soil is extremely gravelly or heavy.

9. Dig deep: Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and 2 to 3 times as wide when planting trees and shrubs. This will ensure your tree gets all the nutrients needed for a long and healthy life.

10. Use a mulching blade when mowing and leaving clippings on the lawn. Doing so will cut the grass into fine pieces and also help reduce trails of clippings showing. (which, as we all know, can make your yard look quite messy)

Maintaining your property can be a lot of work, but it’s worth it to enjoy the warmer weather and have a lush, green lawn. Yes, it is a time-consuming process, but AC Yard Services is always here to help if you need some help keep your property looking its best.

Spring Clean-Ups in Portland Maine

Spring is a beautiful and exciting time in Maine!  Now is the time of year to prepare your lawn and landscaping for the season with a Spring Clean-Up.

To ensure your lawn looks good, it should be cleared of debris left over from fall and winter including leaves, branches, pine cones, and pine needles.  Lawn dethatching will reduce that layer of spongy dead grass and fluff up the lawn for summer.

The city and town plow trucks provide a valuable service making the roads safe during our harsh Maine winters, however there are some after effects.  Sand from the street needs to remove from the lawn to promote healthy grass growth.  Any lawn dug up by the plow also needs to be graded and may need to be seeded in order for the grass to come back.

Flower beds should also be cleaned out including cutting any perennials not completed in the fall, weeding, pruning broken branches prior to spreading mulch. Shrubs that flower on new wood should be pruned in early spring.   Mulching improves appearance and helps discourage weeds from growing.  A layer of 3”-4” should be applied for weed prevention.  Mulch beds should be edged to provide a clean border and prevent mulch from spilling into the lawn. This also helps put a stop to grass and weeds growing from your lawn into the flower beds.

Your property will look beautiful in 2015 with proper spring clean-up preparation and continued maintenance throughout the season!