Spring cleaning is typically thought of as tidying up the inside of your home and not necessarily the outside. Yet, Maryland yards lawns and flower beds also need tending to during this time of year. Below consider the following tips for sprucing up your lawn this spring.

Rake

The first place to start cleaning up your yard is by raking the lawn and garden areas. During the winter months it’s likely that twigs and other debris settled throughout your yard and there may even be some dead grass under the new growth, so it’s important to clear your yard thoroughly to get it nicely prepared for the spring and summer seasons.

Repair

Take a close look at the grass and re-seed any bare patches you may find in the lawn. To properly re-seed be sure to first loosen the soil prior to spreading grass seed and compost on the bare spot. Water frequently.

Aeration

A healthy lawn needs to be able to breathe, receive water and absorb nutrients. Aerating your yard at the start of spring is a great option to consider so that water and nutrients from the coming months can reach the roots of the grass.

Mulch

Mulch is a quick and effective way to spruce up your garden areas. Consider adding a layer of mulch around plants, shrubs and trees. Mulch has many benefits including reducing weeds and keeping the soil moist.

Prune

Examine your trees and shrubs to identify and trim off any dead or broken branches. Dead branches should be easy to locate since they won’t have any new growth on them. Trees and shrubs should be pruned carefully just beyond new buds so you don’t interfere with new growth. Early spring or late fall is the best time to prune trees, when the plant is dormant. Spring flowering shrubs are usually best pruned right after they bloom.

Plan

Flower garden, vegetable garden, or how about both? Now is the time to start planning for spring and summer growth. Cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes and herbs are known to do well Maryland. If you’re visualizing a beautiful flower garden check out this list of recommended native plants for Maryland.

What better way to usher in the start of longer days and warmer weather by spending some time outside giving your Dorsey Family Home yard some extra TLC.

Does your current yard or lack thereof have you dreaming of a larger lot? Contact Mitch at Dorsey Family Homes today to learn more about opportunities for building a new home in Howard County.