Spring didn’t wait long to get here in Western Colorado this year. While we’ve had very little moisture we also haven’t had very cold temperatures. Buds have been sitting on lilac bushes for a month now, and in some places the hyacinths and crocuses have already bloomed. Most of us are most likely a little bit behind on our spring yard clean up. So, we’ve got five quick tips for spring lawn and garden maintenance in Western Colorado.
First, debris removal is where I always like to start.
I grow lots of irises and I always wait until spring to pull up, or cut the old iris fronds from last year. There is little more satisfying than seeing the difference just clearing away those dead stalks can make. Rake up leaves (you can leave some for the bugs if you want) and start a general clean up of your yard. This also gives you the opportunity to take stock of what is currently happening. What is blooming? Is anything new coming up yet? How do your trees look?
Next, consider aeration and fertilizer for your lawn.
In Western Colorado our clay soil gets compacted quickly. Aeration can make a big difference in allowing nutrients to get to your grass’s root system. Follow your aeration time with lawn fertilizer and a good, deep watering. We are in the midst of a drought, as we all know, and if you want to keep your grass looking lovely, it’s best to start now.
Weed, Weed, Weed
It’s a little overwhelming to see the number of weeds already popping up, isn’t it? If you are a fan of weed suppressants or weed killers, now is the time to use a preventative. If you prefer the old fashioned method of hand weeding, get out there and get busy. A soft pad to kneel on and really good, grippy work gloves can make the task less daunting. Pick a small patch or a goal of 1 five-gallon bucket a time and take plenty of stretch breaks too.
Give things a good trim
Trim gently in the spring for your flowering perennials; you can give them a better pruning just after they bloom. But for now, make sure everything looks neat and attractive for spring. You can get rid of suckers on your trees and large perennial bushes, cut back old and dead wildflowers (I leave the blue flax all winter long and don’t’ cut it back until now).
Water water everywhere
Finally, as we mentioned about your lawn, be sure to give everything a deep watering soon. Of our five quick tips for spring lawn and garden care in western Colorado, this is one of the most important! While many of our native plants can survive and even thrive on little water, they all need more than they’ve gotten so far this winter.
If you need help keeping up with your lawn care this year, whether commercial or residential, give us a call! (970) 234-9691