Seasonal Landscape Maintenance: A Complete Guide

Spring Maintenance

Winter's cold grip loosens, and spring awakens your lawn and garden areas. It's time to shake off the winter blues and get your yard ready for Spring.

Waking Up Your Outdoor Space

After winter’s dormancy, it’s time for a thorough cleanup. If you thought spring cleaning was only for inside tasks, think again. Grab your rake, broom, and water hose. Let’s get cleaning.

• Remove dead leaves, debris, and excess winter mulch.
• Turn the soil in garden beds to get them ready for planting.
• Sweep or hose down hardscapes.
• Set up patio furniture and get cushions out of winter storage.
• Check string lights and outdoor lighting fixtures to replace any burnt-out bulbs.

Getting Your Lawn Ready

After a long winter nap, your lawn needs a little pick-me-up to jumpstart spring growth. Spring is the best time to focus on getting your grass healthy before the warmer months ahead.

• Aerate to improve airflow and drainage. Tip: Rent tools you only use occasionally.
• Overseed bare patches for a thicker lawn.
• Use pre-emergent herbicides to control weeds before they’re fully grown.
• Fertilize your grass for healthy growth.

Overseeding refers to spreading new grass seed over your existing lawn without removing the old grass. It helps thicken up thin areas. Over time, lawns can develop bare patches from foot traffic, pet activity, or harsh weather. Overseeding fills in these gaps to create a thicker, more uniform lawn. It’s an essential piece of lawn maintenance.

Another benefit of overseeding is introducing new grass varieties. If your grass didn’t perform well last year, overseeding lets you add a more suitable type.

Bringing Your Garden to Life

In our seasonal landscape maintenance plan, spring is the time to bring your garden to life. Plant cool-season vegetables. Think about quick growers like lettuce, peas, and spinach. Cool-season veggies give you that gardening fix you've missed all winter. Especially for homeowners who can’t wait to get their hands in the dirt!

Give your flower beds some love, too. Divide overgrown perennials. It’s a great way to rejuvenate them and create more plants! Hopefully, you marked them in the Fall, so it’s easy to know where they are, even before spring growth.

Here's how you do it:

1. Dig it Up: Carefully dig around the base of the perennial with a garden fork shovel to loosen the soil and get to the root ball.
2. Separate the Clumps: Use a sharp knife or your hands to gently tease apart the root ball into smaller sections. Each section should have healthy shoots and a good portion of roots. Aim for 3-5 shoots per division.
3. Replant and Care: Plant the divided sections in well-drained soil, water them thoroughly, and keep them moist until established.

The last step in bringing your garden to life is applying a light layer of compost or aged manure. Adding nutrients now helps feed your garden throughout the summer.

Summer

Spring's vibrant energy gives way to summer's long, lazy days. As temperatures rise, the focus shifts to keeping your lawn cool and hydrated. Enjoy your garden as it basks in the sunshine. Here's how to create a summer oasis in your own backyard!

Keeping Your Lawn Lush

Mow regularly to keep your lawn at a good height. Keep your mower blade sharp to get crisp, clean cuts without stressing the grass.

Raising the mowing height of your lawn in summer is beneficial compared to spring.

• Taller grass shades the soil: A longer blade length creates shade for the soil. It retains moisture better and stays cooler during hot periods. Taller grass also reduces stress on your lawn and minimizes water evaporation.
• Promotes root growth: Taller grass encourages deeper root growth. Stronger roots help the lawn access water reserves in the soil more effectively.

Water early in the morning during the summer so water doesn’t evaporate. Most professionals agree that morning watering is better than evening. Excess moisture on grass blades overnight can create ideal conditions for fungal diseases.

However, morning watering gives the grass time to dry throughout the day. So, it minimizes disease risk.

Taming the Summer Heat in Your Garden

Here are some ways to keep your garden in tip-top shape throughout the year's hottest months.

• Group plants based on their water needs to conserve water. Place drought-tolerant plants and flowers together.
• Deadhead spent flowers to encourage more blooming.
• Use mulch around plants to hold in the moisture and keep weeds down.

Creating a Summer Oasis on Your Patio

Outdoor living rooms expand your home’s living space and beckon your family outside. Here are some easy ways to make your outdoor space more welcoming.

• Add shade sails or umbrellas to cool outdoor seating areas.
• Place potted plants around the patio or deck to brighten the mood.
• Ensure proper drainage around the deck to avoid water pooling and reduce pesty insects.
• Install water features to add natural sounds and encourage birds and pollinators.

Fall: Seasonal Landscape Maintenance

As summer's warmth fades and autumn's crisp air arrives, it's time to prepare your outdoor space for winter's slumber. Fall is the perfect time to prepare your lawn and garden for a strong comeback next spring.

Preparing Your Yard for Winter

Leaf removal is at the top of the list for fall cleanup. Some people like to mow the leaves. Once chopped, they’re a great addition to the composting pile. Others like raking, while some people prefer leaf blowing.

However you do it, removing dead leaves prevents your lawn from molding beneath them. It also prevents leaf piles around your home's foundation from becoming cozy nests for unwanted rodents.

Giving Your Lawn a Head Start for Spring

Fall is prime time to give your lawn a head start for next spring! If you missed aeration earlier in the year, now is a good time to do it. This process helps air reach the roots for better growth. Lawns with a heavy clay content can benefit from twice-yearly aeration. But if you have more sandy soil, once is generally enough.

Fall overseeding is an optional step. Consult a local landscaping professional for specific recommendations for your yard.

Finally, fall fertilization gives your grass a boost of nutrients to store for a vibrant spring comeback!

Protecting Your Garden for Winter

As part of your seasonal landscape maintenance, cut back perennials and ornamental grass to protect them during winter.

Richmond's winters are relatively mild compared to northern states. While some frost might occur, prolonged freezing temperatures aren't typical. However, it might be necessary to cover tender plants with burlap or frost cloth.

Add extra mulch around recently planted trees, flower beds, and vegetable gardens. Even in Richmond’s milder winter, mulch insulates the soil, providing some protection against changing temperatures. Mulching aids shallow-rooted plants that might be sensitive to sudden cold snaps.

Winter

Once winter's chill arrives, your landscaping enters a rest period. While most plants are dormant, you can still do a few things to keep your yard looking tidy and prepare for spring's return.

Maintain Your Landscaping During Dormancy

Snow removal is occasionally necessary when it hangs on for a few days. If snow builds up enough to break tree branches, give them a good shake. It’s not usually an issue since Richmond’s snow melts after a few days. But snow removal is part of winter’s seasonal landscape maintenance.

Some homeowners apply salt on walkways to prevent ice buildup. Plants closest to sidewalks are more at risk for salt damage. Snow accumulation and melting help dilute the salt, reducing plant damage.

Planning for Spring

Cold winter days are perfect for sipping a cup of cocoa and browsing gardening catalogs. Winter is the best time to research new plants and additions to your spring garden. Order seeds and seedlings for early spring planting.

Plan landscaping projects while you have plenty of time to dream. Consider adding a retaining wall to sloped yards. Holding back soil creates a flat area for a new patio or seating area. You could also make room for a hammock under that big oak tree.

Winter is the time to put garden designs to paper. Make plans to install a water fountain or bird bath while not much is happening in your winter outdoor space. Or consider adding a privacy screen around your patio to increase ambiance and reduce road noise.

Conclusion

Seasonal landscape maintenance breaks down tasks so you don’t get overwhelmed in any one season. A well-maintained outdoor setting increases curb appeal and property value. However, more importantly, it helps you enjoy outdoor living.