There is nothing quite like Spring in Colorado Springs. Greening grass and budding trees make us anxious to spend more time outdoors. Whether or not you enjoy lawn care, you are sure to love our tips to make spring and summer lawn care a breeze. Timberline Landscaping’s lawn care professionals have put their heads together to create this list of tips to prepare your yard for spring to ensure your yard gets a healthy start this year. Get ready for spring lawn care 101!
Cut back ornamental grasses and Russian sage
These are the two perennial types that we recommend leaving un-cut over winter months to provide winter interest in your garden. Now is the time to cut them back so that you do not risk cutting the tips off newly emerging plants.
Grasses need to be cut to within 3” or less of the ground. Leaving more than this creates an environment where the center will rot because it holds moisture in the remaining grass stalks. Russian sage should be cut back to 6” to allow for any stems that overwintered to sprout new shoots and leaves, otherwise, if they did not overwinter they will grow from the base of the plant near ground level.
Trim shrubs for shape
Summer flowering shrubs like butterfly bush, blue mist spirea, spirea, and potentilla, should be pruned down to between 12”-18”. One exception is the bridal wreath spirea which is a spring flowering shrub that you should trim after it flowers. This is called rejuvenation pruning and will help to force new vigorous growth to sprout.
Butterfly Bush
Blue Mist Spirea
Potentilla
If you are trying to achieve a larger plant, it is best to wait and see which stems overwintered before pruning. This will allow you to selectively prune out dead stems to the ground, while allowing taller stems to maintain their height. Trim hybrid roses back to an outward facing bud to direct the growth away from the center allowing for more air movement and sunlight which will help with disease issues some roses may encounter. Trim spring flowering shrubs such as lilac and forsythia after they have finished flowering.
Flip or install new mulch
Fresh looking mulch beds is a sure bet to make any yard look rejuvenated. Either install a layer of new mulch or flip and fluff existing mulch with a rake.
Apply pre-emergent
Pre-emergent aids in stopping seeds from germinating. We recommend applying to rock, mulch, or hardscape areas where you do not want any weeds to grow from seed. It can be applied as a liquid or granular application.
Both types of application require watering in the application after it has been applied. The water will also help to wash off unwanted overspray on desirable plant leaves and hardscape surfaces that could be stained if not done right away. Try to refrain from disturbing the mulch or soil after the application has been watered in as this will break up the blanket that was created by the chemical.
Amend planting beds with new soil or nutrients
Nutrient rich soil is a necessity for a healthy plant. Adding organic matter, or compost, this time of year is important. Be sure to do it when soils are moist but not waterlogged or overly dry as this will impact the soil structure in a negative way. For more information, read our blog on why soil pH matters.
Start your irrigation after the last freeze date and perform a system check
In Colorado Springs our average last frost date is May 16th. Irrigation systems can be turned on sooner but should be drained prior to a late freeze. Once your system is on you should check for leaks and adjust spray patterns and positions to ensure they aren’t watering hardscapes or sidewalks. More information on irrigation best practices is available here:
Perform tool maintenance to prep for the season
Spring is the best time to check your mower and other tools to ensure they are ready for the season. For all tools, not only lawnmowers, it is recommended that they be kept inside when not in use to avoid water or rust damage. Trimmers should be cleaned with antibacterial spray after each use, or after each cut when pruning a known diseased tree or shrub, as they can spread diseases between plants.
We recommend:
- Every 8 Hours or Daily
- Check engine oil level
- Clean area around muffler and controls free of
debris
- Every 25 Hours
- Clean air filter
- Clean pre-cleaner
- Sharpen blades
- Clean under decks and inspect for damage
- Annually
- Change engine oil
- Check muffler and spark arrester
- Replace air filter
- Replace pre-cleaner
- Replace spark plug
- Replace fuel filter
- Clean air cooling system
For more tips on spring gardening be sure to check out our guide to flowers by season in Colorado Springs.
Want a beautiful yard without the work? Contact our Landscape Management team today!
