Tips to Add in and Maintain Vegetation to Your Yard's Landscaping

Spring is arriving and summer is not far behind, so now is a good time to complete some yard maintenance and improvement before the weather gets too hot. Spring yard maintenance is also beneficial to your vegetation to help it get a good start to establish roots and leaf growth before the high temperatures of summer arrive. Here are some helpful tips to use as you plant vegetation and maintain landscaping elements within your yard.

Plant and Protect Trees

When you want to add shade to your yard and vertical beauty, trees are a great option and add many benefits to your yard. In addition to the shade they provide in the summer, trees will provide a natural habitat for birds and other wildlife and help the environment with oxygen production and natural organic mulch from their fallen leaves. 

It is an easy process to plant a tree in your yard, especially a fruit tree, which will give you years of fresh fruit each summer. Just be sure you take care of the tree during and after planting so it grows well. Make sure you dig a hole wide enough and deep enough to accommodate the tree's root ball so it can be placed in the hole with a few inches of soil over the highest root on the tree's root ball. Plan to dig a hole that is double the width of the tree's root ball to provide you adequate space to place and bury the roots appropriately. 

When you cover the tree's roots with soil, wiggle the tree slightly to let the soil settle around the tree's roots and fill in any air pockets. Cover the area with soil to make it level with the surrounding area then compress the surface to further remove any air pockets. Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the tree but not directly against the trunk. This will protect the soil from weeds and insulate it for moisture retention against the summer sun but not put the tree at risk of rot directly around the tree's base. Water the tree's roots every day for the first season to help the tree establish in the soil and secure it in place with a stake to keep it from growing crooked. 

Prepare Your Lawn

Spring is also a great time to prepare your lawn for a season of growing. Once the soil warms up, apply an early spring treatment of herbicide to feed your lawn and protect it from weed germination. This will give you a head start on fighting weeds and boost the nutrient content of your soil and lawn for healthy growth through the year. 

If your lawn has a thick layer of thatch, use a thatch rake or thatching mower blade to remove the thick layer from your lawn before you apply fertilizer. It is also a good idea to consider aerating your lawn if it has been several years since you last completed this. Soil compaction can make your lawn thin and unhealthy in areas from the lack of oxygen and nutrients that reach your lawn's roots.

For more information, reach out to a local landscape design company.

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