Preparing your Landscape for Spring

After a long winter like we have had there is a lot to do in a short amount of time. The reason why I say this is because it doesn't take that long after the snow cover to melt for the weed seeds will start to germinate.  Weeds will start to germinate when the ground temperature reaches around 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Here is  a list of things to do once the snow melt is gone:

• Rake sand and salt off of the lawn

• Pick up fallen branches, sticks off of the lawn

• Remove burlap coverings from evergreens

• If the lawn is not saturated then rake and dethatch lawn

• Aerate if needed

• Spread fertilizer/pre-emergent weed control

• Wait a couple of days and then lime

Watering your Landscape

Irrigating your lawn is one of the top most priorities you need to do to maintain a healthy lawn. It is also one of the easiest things to over look and then damage occurs to your lawn. Watering should be done during cool parts of the day. Early morning is the best time to water, night watering is not recommended. It is like a baby that wets themselves at night and then sleeps in it, they then develop diaper rash. It is similar to the lawn. When you water at night it is normally cooler and dark; this is when disease, fugus and mosses will start to grow. What you want to do is water in the early morning that way the turf gets watered and the sun will dry it before the disease, fungus and mosses start to grow. Also infrequent watering are good as long as they are deep enough to saturate the root zone. You want to make sure the ground dries out between watering this will encourage the roots to grow deeper in search of water. Remember a deep root zone will survive a drought a lot easier that a shorter root zone. The same goes for trees and shrubs they should not be planted in the turf area; doing so will expose them to more frequent watering than they need. This will lead to shallow root systems that will then lead to weak rooted trees and shrubs.