Spring is the perfect time to get your gardening ducks in a row, if you will. It’s time to shake off the chill of winter. As the weather begins to change, temperatures climb, the sun reemerges, and things begin to grow and bloom once again. Getting out in the yard and doing some physical labor can be cathartic, and seeing the results of your efforts will make you feel accomplished and proud! We’ve got five must-do yard projects for early spring that will have you bragging about your lawn and garden this season.
1– Tilling & Garden Prep
Tilling can be an important part of garden prep, and for many gardeners, the best time for tilling is in the spring. Before you start to work though, make sure you wait for the weather to be warm enough so that you can plant soon after, and that you wait for the soil to be dry enough for your tilling efforts to be effective.
To see if your soil is dry enough for tilling, pick up a handful and squeeze it into a ball. If the ball of soil falls apart, the soil is dry enough to till. If the ball of soil stays mainly intact, the soil is too wet and should be left to dry out more before you start the tilling process.
First you’ll want to mark the area where you’ll be tilling the soil. Then start your work at one end of the marked out area with your tiller. Just like you do when you mow your lawn, go across the soil one row at a time. Don’t rush the process of tilling, and make your rows slowly. Don’t go back over the rows as excessive tilling can cause dirt compaction making planting more difficult, and inhibit growth of your flowers, vegetables, and other plants.
Need a tiller? Rent a tiller today from Action Rentals, and start to work! Not sure what you need? Let our knowledgeable staff help.
2– Aerating Your Lawn
Another great yard project for springtime is yard aeration. Spring aeration is recommended for warm season grass, and especially in areas that experience prolonged dry conditions. This process helps to improve the passage of water and nutrients through the soil, allowing them to reach the lawn’s roots, even when watering is limited.
Almost all lawns benefit from aeration, and a great lawn basically requires it. Aerating your lawn improves the air exchange between the soil and the atmosphere, enhances the soil’s water uptake, improves the efficacy of fertilizers, reduces water runoff and puddling, and reduces soil compaction. Learn more about the aeration process here, and rent an aerator from Action Rentals to give your lawn a makeover this spring!
3– Pruning Shrubs
This season is also prime time for pruning shrubs and bushes in and around your yard for an overall more manicured look. Train and shape small trees and shrubs on your property and enhance the appearance of your entire lawn by trimming back dead or overgrown portions giving new life to your plants. Pruning not only adds aesthetic appeal, but also helps promote healthy growth of your bushes, protects your property from potential damage, and deters pest and animal infestation as well.
4– Mulching
If you’re into gardening and keeping your yard looking top-notch, odds are you probably use mulch from time to time to enhance your efforts. Using mulch in your garden beds can help reduce weed growth, reduces water loss from the soil surface by helping it to maintain moisture, moderates soil temperatures by adding a protective layer, and protects bare soil reducing soil compaction and potential for erosion.
5– Cleaning Up Leaves & Debris
Spring is also the perfect time to do a little yard clean up before the weather is perfect for outdoor activities. Clean up excess leaves around your yard, remove dead and fallen tree branches, and tidy things up so you can enjoy time outdoors this upcoming season. Find everything you need for yard maintenance– from straw blowers to bed edgers to hedge trimmers and more– through Action Rentals. Get yard tool rentals with ease when you work with us, and start transforming your yard just in time for the spring and summer seasons.