Think ahead with a good yard care routine this year so you’ll have a backyard oasis through the year for entertaining or simply relaxing and enjoying the hazy, lazy days of summer with family and friends. There’s simply nothing that compares to running barefoot through the lush green grass, here are some tips to get started:
1. Do some spring cleaning
Begin with a good spring clean-up, which includes raking leaves and removing debris, tree guards, and burlap. Just be careful not to remove mulch from perennials or shrubs too early, or to rake your flower garden too vigorously. Doing so could damage the soil, tendering new bulbs and emerging plants.
2. Tune up your tools
Clean, repair, sharpen, lubricate and tune all of your garden tools, mowers, and trimmers, so they are ready to go when you are.
3. Test your soil
Testing your soil is the starting point of any lawn fertilization program. Consider testing your soil each time you plant new seed. State Extension services and private labs offer kits that let you mail in soil samples for analysis. The reports will give you an accurate reading of what your lawn needs and how much of it should be applied. While tests don’t have to be done every year, they are a good idea every three or four years.