When the weather is still cold and unpredictable, most of us are not putting yard work at the top of the “to do” list. However, there are some things we can -and should- do this time of year.
For those who hire out to have yard work done, this is a good time to make arrangements. It’s not good to wait until the grass really, really needs to be cut to schedule mowing. Many lawn services and landscapers will be booked in advanced and will continue receiving calls as the weather grows warmer. Not only will you be able to schedule more conveniently the sooner you call, but you may also get a better price. Such services can begin to charge a premium for their time when things are busy.
For the do-it-yourself types, those of us who can’t afford to hire someone or simply prefer to do yard work ourselves, now is a good time to start cleaning and revitalizing. Prune trees, fruit bearing plants and trees, and flowering trees and bushes.
Clear any leaves, twigs, other debris, etc. and rake the yard well. Fill any low or loose areas with extra soil and gently tamp it down. Lightly rake the top. Do the same for flowerbeds and garden spots.
If you need to seed any areas of your lawn, begin doing so. The ground should be nice and moist in many areas, so watering should not be a problem. Many people cover grass seed with hay or other substances to help retain nutrients and moisture as well as to hide the seeds from friends in the yard such as small animals and birds.
Your yard will be well on its way to looking good before spring weather settles in to stay. Then, the real work -and the real rewards- will begin.