Spring is upon us, and gardens need sprucing up, including those lovely trees that stand so majestic in the landscape. The winter coat needs to be cleared away along with the damages that it brought, including debris, fallen branches, weeds, and so much more.
The foliage will not only be healthier after the spring cleaning, but the landscape will look pristine too.
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Spring Cleaning In The Garden
Once the weather starts to get warm, trees and shrubs will begin to bud, making it critical that the old be cleared away for the new coming in. For the trees, a nice trim from Neward DE tree services will get rid of any dead branches or overgrown branches in preparation for storm weather. It’s much easier to take care of trims before the leaves come out, blocking the view from trouble areas. That’s true with plants and shrubs as well.
The ideal way to keep disease and pests from the garden is to remove these areas from the landscape, including ridding the yard of the debris and dead materials plus pruning and trimming the greenery. Let’s check out a few steps to help the clean-up go more smoothly.
● Winter Hardscape Damages
Check the garden for damages from the winter or repairs that weren’t taken care of before winter set in. “Frost heaving” can create damage with edging, paving, or even cracks in the water lines.
Before there is a growth spurt with the season, it’s wise to make all the necessary repairs before moving on to the greenery. Read here for advice on garden clean-up after a storm.
● Work the Weeds Away
Nobody likes to weed. Unfortunately, the longer you procrastinate, the more the weeds will increase and battle for nutrients and moisture from the shrubs and trees that the trees will rely on in order to survive the sweltering summer heat.
Pulling weeds early in the season catches them before they have the chance to seed, decreasing those that can germinate. The annual weeds are also much simpler to pull when they’re still small, and the spring rains keep the ground moist and soft.
The weeds likely also have had a minimal opportunity for developing an expansive root system meaning they’ll release from the soil with little effort. The recommendation is to rid the soil of weed growth when the ground is warm but prior to it drying out.
● Competing Plants
Plants growing around the base of a tree’s trunk, along with any overgrowth or debris, should be removed. That includes groundcovers, lawn, or ivy – something that should not climb the trunk.
Anything surrounding the trunk can hide decaying areas or potentially create a moisture trap around the “root crown,” resulting in the development of fungi.
Animal pests create homes in ivy and groundcovers where plant debris and trash ultimately collect. It’s suggested to remove any plants or foliage that comes within the “drip line,” keeping the soil covered with mulch to prevent fungi, insect larvae from hatching, and weeds from surviving.
The “trunk or root flare” at the tree’s base is crucial to its health and should always be mulch-free and visible.
● Twigs and Branches
Smaller twigs and branches will damage lawn equipment, including mower blades, since they don’t break down readily. These need to be mulched up. When picking up branches, look into the tree crowns to find out if there’s a cause for these to be dropping.
It’s likely from loads of ice and snow breaking the branches over the winter, but there can be other causes like disease, decay, poor pruning, etc. Find out how to take care of tree storm damage at https://www.birdsandblooms.com/gardening/growing-trees-shrbs-grasses/tree-storm-damage/.
● Dead/Broken Branches
Dead or broken branches due to winter storm damage, particularly those still attached, should be pruned and treated by a professional tree service. These experts will ensure that the trees look excellent but are healthy and safe.
The service representatives will handle climbing the trees, something too dangerous for a homeowner to try in a DIY capacity.
For those who want to prune, it’s okay to do so from the ground as far as you can reach for any broken limbs just barely attached by some branch, stubs where the whole branch has already dropped off, or jagged ends.
● Debris
Debris and trash will likely be strewn around the garden from the winter making for an unappealing appearance and a haven for pests, especially rodents. It’s essential to go through the entire area, taking away all the debris.
Leaves should be raked, especially any appearing to be matted down, since these keep water away from the soil, creating an atmosphere for fungi. It would help if you also raked through mulch which generally becomes compacted after the snow and rain from winter.
Once it’s fluffy again, you can determine if there will be a need to add more to the beds or around trees. The recommended depth is between 2 and 4 inches, so you don’t want to overdo it.
● Irrigation System
It’s wise to ensure the irrigation system is in functional order before the greenery is in need. Your plants will suffer if you choose to wait until it’s sweltering outside to turn the system on, becoming water-stressed.
With early inspection, the system can have the necessary repairs if there’s a leak or a crack from the winter, so it’s ready for the summer.
Final Thought
With spring being here, it’s time for a major cleaning, not only on the inside of the house but in the garden. While homeowners in Delaware can take care of the ground-level work making the curb appeal pristine, it’s wise to contact a well-qualified, experienced professional service to help with the tree clean-up.
That can be tough and dangerous, especially climbing the trees to clear out dead or broken branches leftover from the winter. The experts can make fast, easy work of the project with their special equipment and skills.
