Spring is coming! Is your property ready?
When spring arrives in Maine, it is time to celebrate. We made it through another winter! As spring arrives, though, so does a new list of chores to tackle for keeping your yard and property looking their best. At least it’s a little bit warmer out as you tackle these chores than when you’re shoveling.
Winter takes its toll on a yard, and if your yard looks messy and unkempt your entire property will too. If you’re on an annual plan with AC Yard Services, you know that we are committed to keeping your property looking its best year-round, and part of that is doing several tasks in each and every season. For spring, we recommend starting with these five landscaping and yard-work chores to get your property ready:
- Pick Up Sticks (And Other Debris)
- Take Care of Overgrown Shrubs
- Neaten Up Your Gardens and Yard by Edging
- Clean Out and Freshen Up Your Flowerbeds
- Put Down Mulch
Pick Up Sticks (and leaves, and acorns, and everything else)
By the time the snow melts it can seem like your yard has turned into a gathering place for all the stray branches, acorns, and litter in your neighborhood. Getting rid of all of this debris can make a big difference in your property’s overall appearance, and it’s a chore that you can start relatively early, even before the snow is all melted. If you get ahead on this chore, your property will look much neater than those around you, and you will have a head start on your overall spring raking, weeding, and planting work.
Take Care of Overgrown Shrubs
Even if you thought you took care of all the trimming in the fall, you might notice some overgrowth in your shrubbery as spring arrives. The shrubbery that is particularly important to take care of in the spring is that closest to your house, especially if it sits right up against it. If shrubbery is overgrown, messy and tight up to your house, it not only looks unsightly but can also trap moisture – something no homeowner wants to deal with as an ongoing problem.
Shrubbery, when neat and healthy, can be an excellent accent to your yard. It creates borders, can help provide privacy, and offers attractive greenery with fairly little maintenance required. But, we’ve all seen what can happen when shrubbery gets out of control. Taking just a little time this spring to tame the shrubs in your yard can be a long-term investment in the health and attractiveness of your property.
Create Borders With Edging
Edging with a flat-edged spade can help you create a neat appearance throughout your yard. Tackle the areas next to sidewalks, along the driveway, your front walk, or around your patio. Edge the side of the lawn so it is a straight line against these property elements, and not overgrown and ragged. You might not even notice how much this project can help your lawn look neater until it’s done, but edging really does make a big difference in the overall appearance of your property. If the snow is gone earlier from some parts of your property than others, you can start with those and get a jump on this project.
Clean Out And Freshen Up Your Flowerbeds
As part of the overall debris cleanup discussed in Tip #1, you probably started getting sticks, branches, and leaves out of your flowerbeds. As we get later into spring, though, you should make a second pass through your flowerbeds to start pulling out weeds and getting rid of debris that may have found its way back there since you did your initial cleanup. Prepping the flowerbeds gets you ready for one of the best parts of spring – getting flowers in the ground!
When spring actually arrives, one of the most important things you can do for your property is to get rid of weeds and put in bright, cheery plants. Consider planting spring annuals, like petunias, to add vibrance to your yard.
Put Down Mulch
If your yard looks good, but you can tell it isn’t quite there yet – consider adding mulch. If the snow is gone, adding a layer of mulch is both a way to add a ‘pop’ to your property while also serving the practical purpose of discouraging weed growth. For weed prevention, apply a 3”-4” layer of mulch.
While mulch is available in several hues, black mulch is an excellent choice for improving a property’s look. Of course, some houses may have a paint color for which a brown or red mulch is a better choice, or some flower choices may do better with a different hue. Overall, though, if you’re not sure – black mulch is most often a good choice.
If you’re starting to tackle your spring chores and think it would be nice to be hand some of them off to professionals, give AC Yard Services a call at (207) 712-5554. Our team is here for you in every season, and we’re always ready to rake, mow, mulch, plant – and more.
