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9 Tips to Get Ready for Spring and Summer!

1/3/2023

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1. Start up all your powered landscape equipment. Repair any tools that are not running at top notch. Re-fill you gas jugs with fresh gas and mix oil. Sharpen any tools that were missed last fall. Replace air filters. It is better to sort this out now than when the grass is growing like crazy!

2. Renovate lawns as needed. Aerate and thatch your lawns to remove moss and thatch buildup. Spread a quality grass seed and cover with a thin layer of peat moss to protect the new seeds.

3. Fertilize. Apply your first round of fertilizer for the year. Wake your lawn up with a slow release granular 3-1-2 or 3-1-3 ratio of nitrogen-phosphorous-potassium. Be sure not to over apply and always clean off hard surfaces like patios and walkways to prevent staining. For more fertilizer tips, peruse our September 2016 blog about fertilizer!

4. Apply ferrous sulfate. If you are fighting a serious moss invasion in your lawn, apply ferrous sulfate to kill off the moss. Adding a lime product will also change the soil pH to help the grass prosper while hindering the moss. Again, be sure to clean off hard surfaces to prevent staining.

5. Get your sprinkler system ready for spring. Repair any broken parts. Starting your irrigation system now will allow plenty of time for repairs as needed before the heat sets in. Consider updating your system to include more efficient nozzles. Double check your controller has a well-timed irrigation schedule. Installing a weather sensor is another great investment to not waste water while it is raining.

6. Make a plan of landscape projects you want to complete this summer. Know you budget. Find pictures of landscape designs you like as inspiration. If you plan to use a professional landscape company, contact them now before their schedules fill up for the busy summer season.

7. Get a jump on weeds. Apply a pre-emergent chemical to prevent weed seedlings from germinating. Be sure to read the package. Some pre-emergent chemicals are detrimental to grass and bulbs. Do not over apply.

8. Clean out beds and apply bark. Rake out all the leaves and debris that settled in your flowerbeds over winter. Apply a fresh 1-2 inch layer of bark to your beds. This tidies up your landscape and helps keep weeds down.

9. Inspect your shrubs and trees. Take note of any plants that were damaged over winter. Check your tree trunks and larger limbs for splits and cracks. Make a plan to remove any damaged and dangerous trees.

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10 Steps for Planning a Landscape Renovation

5/24/2017

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Find inspirations! The internet is full of great landscape ideas, pictures, products resources, and suggestions. Find a theme that intrigues you. Having these visions available will help with the design phase.
Determine your budget. Landscape projects can get very spendy very quickly. Often a large part of the expense is in the preparation work (think irrigation, drainage, and wall and patio foundation preparation). Having a set budget can help a landscape designer determine priorities and phases for completing the renovation.
Be willing to spend $1000-$2500 on a scale design of your future landscape. Planning your landscape ahead of time can help ensure a cohesive final product when completed in multiple phases or all at once.
Find a landscape contractor that fits your needs. The reliable contractors should be licensed, bonded, and insured; will have a great rating with the Better Business Bureau; can provide references and previous project examples; and will likely not be the cheapest option. Find a contractor that can see your vision and help guide you in the right directions to get the renovation completed.
Be willing to pay a little extra for a quality project. There will always be a cheaper option for getting landscape work completed, but often the cheaper option comes with lack of quality, project completion issues, or logistical headaches for the homeowner.
Plan ahead. Get HOA permission if need be, find out what permits you need, and consider the effect the project will have on your day-to-day life while being completed. Have a timeline of when you would like the project completed and start contacting landscape contractors with plenty of time to allow for design and implementation; potentially several months ahead of time. Winter is generally much slower for landscapers and could also lead to discounts due to it being the slow season.
Be open to changes and suggestions. The design process can often lead to discovering many ideas and challenges that you never even considered.
Be willing to wait for the right contractor or time of year if need be. Large landscape projects are not worth rushing.
Don’t choose the cheapest materials and landscape products. Long term, the higher end products will last and remain intact and beautiful. And do not skimp on the unseen project elements: drainage is very important, particularly in the PNW; proper foundations for walls and patios are crucial; and a quality irrigation system is necessary for most landscape designs.
Get ready to let your creative juices flow and prepare yourself for endless possibilities.