The winter season has come to an end, but without the contrast of winter, you would not be able to appreciate the beauty of spring. You emerge from colours of grey, brown, and white to vibrant shades of greens, pinks, and yellows.
Now is the time to take a look at your landscape and take notice of any areas in your landscape that are in need of seasonal colour or extra privacy.
If you live in the Okanagan, you will find that you are fortunate to be able to grow an array of evergreens, from weeping Spruce, Pine to Euonymus, and a variety of Rhododendrons which have beautiful spring blooms.
But before planting, you need to wake your yard up from the cold hard winter to the early rise of spring. There are many resources and lists available online about spring clean-up and what to do, but the aim is to help you understand why it needs to be done.
This Winter, there have been a few strong wind storms, so raking up leaves, branches, and debris is the first step. Matted leaves on your lawn and garden beds can smother emerging plants, depriving them of moisture and oxygen.
Some ways through which you can ensure a healthy lawn:
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Aeration: Spring is the best time to aerate your lawn; aeration removes small plugs of soil that reduce compaction. It inspires root growth and lets water, air and fertilizer reach the roots.
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De-thatching: This is another good health practice for your lawn. Dethatching removes the dead layer of leaves, stems and roots that do not break down quickly. A thick layer of thatch will decrease water absorption and create a barrier for the roots, and will encourage disease and insect infestation.
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Top-dressing & seeding: Spring is also a good time to top-dress and seed dead patches in your lawn because of warming temperatures and adequate moisture.
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Pruning: Trees and shrubs will benefit from pruning out the dead, diseased, damaged and crossing branches. By not pruning any of the damaged and crossing branches, insects will gather and create holes that are perfect breeding grounds for disease and fungus to set in.
How to tell when your plants show new signs of growth:
With your perennial beds, remove any leftover leaves and stems. Take a look at the center of your plants, do they look like a doughnut with nothing growing in the center? This is a sign that they need to be divided. Perennials such as Hosta’s, daylilies and grasses put their new growth to the outside of the plant, while the old growth dies from previous years.
Weeding is your best friend!
Weeding is also important because, during fall and winter, weed seeds have blown in from surrounding areas and establish themselves easily. Adding a fresh layer of mulch and covering any bare spots will help with weed control throughout the summer months. Your annual beds will benefit from adding compost and peat which adds nutrients and aeration, while a proper granular fertilizer will support your lawn and garden.
If this all seems overwhelming, we can help transform your landscape this spring! Our experts at Synergy, spearheaded in West Kelowna, are ready to rejuvenate your outdoor space. From designing to growing lush lawns, we've got you covered. Contact us today for a vibrant and thriving yard.