Your yard, like the rest of your home, deserves care and attention, especially once the cold season has passed and warm weather is on the horizon. After all, your lawn just did all the hard work of surviving to reach this point, the least we could do is give it a little help, right?
Compass Self Storage wants to give you some of our favorite tips for how to clean up flower beds in the spring, how to tune up your yard for a healthy growing season, and how much you can expect out of a spring yard clean up. We’re also here to help with self storage solutions along the way to store leftover supplies, tools, and more if you don’t want them cluttering your garage or shed.
What is a Spring Clean Up for Landscaping?
A spring clean up for landscaping is the process of taking inventory of the state of your yard, garden, and patio areas, and making a plan for how you want them to look as the spring season unfolds. This can include details like locating and disposing of weeds, figuring out how much fertilizer you’ll need to stimulate plant growth, and whether or not it’s feasible for you to do all the work for yourself, or if you should call in support from a professional landscaping service.
Tips for Spring Yard Clean Up
Spring is a season of renewal. Here are a few of our go-to spring clean up tips to bring your landscaping game into proper form. You can even get the entire family involved to make the process faster.
Tip #1 – Clear Away Debris
Over the winter, your yard is liable to have seen some build up of excess branches, leaves, dog droppings, and other organic debris that are now strewn about. Your best approach for bringing order to this chaos is raking or using a leaf blower so that your lawn and garden can receive sunlight again.
However, don’t leave the job half finished. Often you’ll need to be a bit more labor intensive with your clean up, especially the branches that don’t go away so easily. Bring a couple yard waste bags and gloves—you’ll likely need to dispose of things personally.
Tip #2 – Prune Trees and Shrubs
Winter can take a toll on trees and shrubs, and spring is the perfect time to give them a trim. Pruning removes dead or damaged branches, creating an opportunity for your foliage to promote new growth for the spring season, while shaping the plants for a more appealing appearance. As with cooking, be sure to use sharp and clean pruning tools, as dull instruments are more likely to create injuries, both for yourself and your green life.
Consult a gardening guide or seek advice from a professional if you’re unsure about how to properly prune specific plants.
Tip #3 – Prepare Flower Beds
Of course, how could we leave out the flower beds? When we think of this season, flowers are often the first thing that jumps to mind, so now is a great time to figure out how to clean up flower beds for spring and prepare them for the upcoming growing season.
Start by removing any weeds, dead leaves, and debris from your flower beds, as outlined above. Loosen the soil with a rake or a cultivator to allow air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the soil. You can also add a layer of compost or mulch to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and provide nutrients to your plants as they start to grow.
Let’s go into a little more detail on different ways on how you can clean up flower beds for the spring, so you give them the best possible chance to thrive.
Remove Your Winter Mulch
If you applied mulch to your flower beds to protect your plants during the winter, it’s time to send it packing. Rake away the mulch carefully, mindful not to damage any emerging plants. Removing the winter mulch allows sunlight to reach the soil, warming it up and stimulating plant growth.
Give Weeds the Boot
Ah weeds, one of the most stubborn pests. Weeds can quickly invade flower beds and compete with your plants for nutrients and water, making spring yard clean up a time-intensive struggle. Take the time to carefully pull out any weeds that have emerged in your flower beds during the winter months, or apply a weed killing agent that won’t compromise the health and safety of your flowers. Be thorough and make sure the entire weed is dead, including the roots, to prevent it from regrowing.
Now is also a good time to note that if you have a history of dealing with other types of pests, you may want to put up chicken wire or another type of fence to ward off local wildlife that would either destroy your flowers or eat your garden.
Fertilize and Revitalize
Tactical implementation of fertilizer is the key to success in bringing new life to your flower bed. Consider using a slow-release, balanced fertilizer to provide a steady supply of nutrients to your plants throughout the growing season. Follow the recommended application rates found on the product and apply the fertilizer evenly to avoid damaging your plants.
Spring Yard Clean Up Cost
When it comes to spring yard clean up, the cost can vary depending on the size of your yard, the extent of the work needed, and whether you choose to do it yourself or hire a professional service.
If you decide to tackle the yard clean up on your own, your primary expense will be for any tools or supplies you may need, such as a rake, leaf blower, pruning shears, or mulch. The average cost for these tools can range from $20 to $200, depending on the quality and brand.
If you need to purchase any fertilizers, weed control products, or other materials, those costs should be factored in as well.
On the other hand, hiring a professional yard clean up service can save you time and effort, but will come with a higher cost since you’re paying for labor and professional experience. As a rough estimate, you can expect to pay an average of $150 to $500 for a one-time spring yard clean up service, depending on the size and shape of your yard.
It’s important to note that ongoing maintenance and regular yard care may also be needed throughout the spring and summer months, which can add to the overall cost. Some professional services may offer packages or discounts for recurring services, so be sure to inquire about those options if you’re considering hiring a professional service for ongoing yard care.
Turn to Compass Self Storage For Spring Cleaning Support
You deserve an experienced, reliable self storage solution operated by a team that cares and has your best interest in mind. Compass has already become the answer to storage problems for thousands of customers, and would like to invite you to try our services as well and see how it fits you and your situation.
Locate our nearest facility now, or learn more about our features, services, and policies in this total explanation FAQ that we’ve compiled to answer all of your questions!
Spring yard clean up shouldn’t feel like a never-ending process. Eventually you need to hang up the weed whacker. Let Compass be your extra space, and your peace of mind.
