The days are noticeably longer, birds are singing, and your yard and landscaping are looking as drab as winter.  Time to take advantage of more daylight hours and get a jump start on the growing season.  Here are some guidelines for early Spring outdoor maintenance: 

 

  • Rake leaves and other debris so your lawn can absorb as much sun as possible to look its best.
     

  • Order seeds if you have not already done so and get them started as soon as possible. The Old Farmer’s Almanac has some great advice for indoor seed-starting. 
     

  • Do not wait to find a mechanical problem with your mower when it is time to use it.  Home Depot offers some tips for getting your lawnmower ready for the busy season. 
     

  • Check your irrigation system for any cracks if the cold weather has been brutal this year. 
     

  • If you see daffodils blooming, that means it is time to get cold weather veggies in the ground:  onions, garlic, sweet peas, salads, carrots, and potatoes are cold-hardy and will be ready to harvest first! 
     

  • Continue to keep bird feeders full.  Clean your hummingbird feeders with a mixture of warm water white vinegar, rinse, and allow to air dry.  Check out this hummingbird Spring migration information so you will be ready when the hummers return. 
     

  • It is important to prune dead wood and suckers out of flowering trees and shrubbery.  However, plants that bloom in early spring and summer or that bloom off old wood, i.e.., azaleas, hydrangeas, forsythia, dogwoods, should not be completely cut back until after they flower. Cutting them back now will take off the new flower bud that formed last year. 
     

  • After pruning fruit trees, spray with neem oil to help prevent any pests that have overwintered and can destroy the summer harvest. 

 

Get great results when the growing and harvest seasons begin by maintaining plants and plant beds.  Your outdoor space is a year-round job and getting an early start may save you some time and energy when the temperatures are soaring.   

 

Courtesy of New Castle County DE Realtors Tucker Robbins and Carol Arnott Robbins.   

Photo credit: The Family Handyman