Each year, towards the end of winter, we look forward to Groundhog Day to let us know what to expect for the rest of the season. With spring landscaping in mind, the first thing to do in the garden every year is give it the “squirt” test. Start by taking a step down hard on the ground. If water squirts up around your shoe, stay out. You can do more harm than good by walking on this ground and compacting it. If you pass the squirt test, it’s time for spring clean-up landscaping services, so call your landscaper today. So, what does a spring clean-up entail exactly? Here’s what you can expect from your dedicated local landscaping service.
Clean out leaves and sticks from the garden.
The first task is to clean out the leaves and sticks from the garden beds. A landscaper gets out any accumulated leaves and broken branches by raking or blowing them, and then gets ready to do the most important cleanup job, which is removing all the old mulch from the beds. During spring clean-up landscaping services, it is the right time to start checking to see whether the ground is thawing out or not. If you don’t remove old mulch, it can build up over time and smother the plants and flowers. This is why it is important to remove old mulch from the beds in order to let your flowers breathe.
Light pruning of winter injury on shrubs (dead or damaged branches).
The best time to prune dead or damaged trees is late winter or early spring (February, March, and early April) before they begin to leaf out. Some trees, such as maples, “bleed” heavily when pruned in late winter or early spring. However, the heavy bleeding doesn’t harm the trees. The trees won’t bleed to death and the flow of sap will gradually slow and stop. It is important to remember that pruning is a process, not an event. Each property can be assessed individually, and your needs will be decided based on your flower production and the growing season.
Spade edging all gardens.
Nothing sets off your garden beds like a nice, crisp edge. Whether you have flowers and foliage or fruit and vegetables, a garden bed is enhanced by edging. Edging focuses the viewer’s attention like a frame around a picture. In commercial buildings, it is vital to have this service to properly represent your business starting from the outside. The proper landscape of any property speaks volumes about the property and owners.
Thatching and/or cleanup of lawn area.
Cleanup of your lawn is performed and can continue on an as-needed basis if you are interested in further maintenance. Lawn areas will be cleaned of leaves and other winter debris for the spring. This process involves power raking the lawn with a machine. The machine that is used will loosen and bring to the surface a lot of thatch. To ensure proper cleanup of the lawn, the thatch is then blown off.
Cleanup of buffer zone along wooded areas (as needed).
A buffer zone is a strip of natural greenery along the bank of a water body that separates the water from developed areas such as your building or lawn. If you have a water body on your property, there are many reasons to protect, preserve, and enhance the buffer zone around it. Preserving buffers on streams of all sizes not only protects the water but also allows the water to filter through the soil and replenish groundwater.
Blowing off hardscapes.
A local landscaping service can visit your property as needed to trim and clean grass clippings and debris from hardscape areas. Maintaining a taller grass height discourages weed growth and encourages deeper roots, which help your lawn to survive extended periods of weathering.
Mowing of lawn, as needed.
Mowing is the most basic practice for maintaining a lush lawn. Mowing performed at the correct height and frequency is essential to the health and density of the stand. Removing leaf tips induces plants to form new sprouts, increasing stand density. Mowing can affect water quality, also. A healthy stand can withstand more pest pressure and needs fewer pest control inputs.
As the winter season comes to a close, it is important for New Jersey homeowners and businesses to appropriately plan out their lawn care in a timely fashion. Spring clean-up is one of the first landscaping services of the season to be performed, taking place during the latter part of March all the way to the first part of May. For a picture-perfect landscape, entrust your projects and lawn care to a reputable local landscaping service. Establish a schedule in the spring to ensure your property is properly cared for throughout the rest of the year.
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