Article Written By: Jordan E Raley

The freshness of Spring will be here before we know it and with it comes the need to get those garden beds and landscaping in great shape before you start revamping. While you can hold off on garden tidying until warmer seasons truly arrive, why not get a head start on your Spring-cleaning list and take advantage of mild weather when it occurs?

At Full Circle, we suggest beginning with an assessment of your landscaping needs in order to see what you can do while the temps aren’t quite warm. Some things may need to be done in phases as the weather may fluctuate over the next few weeks (such as pruning and mulching) and others are one-and-done.

1. Check out your lawn and beds and pick up any branches, sticks, rocks, or leaves that have fallen or blown about during the winter months. If your lawn is covered with leaves, it’s best to hold off on a big mulch job until the ground has truly thawed and your grass can then get some breathing room. A light raking or blowing is fine. This is also a good time to clear off any walkways or paths created within your landscape.

2. If your winter is mild and temperatures stay around or above the 50s, you can go ahead and start pruning your plants. Gently remove any dead leaves, stems, flowers, and dead annuals (root to stem) to help jumpstart new growth. If needed, trees too can be pruned while the temperatures are mild. However, make sure you research the tree and ensure you’re not overzealous on your flowering and fruit trees. Trees are often forgotten when pruning but winter months can leave them nutrient deficient so some pruning and a little TLC can go a long way by the time Spring arrives.

3. Remember when we discussed getting your beds ready for winter with proper mulching? Now is the time to remove much of that old mulch or any other protective barriers you may have applied to keep your delicate plants cozy during these chilly months. While we’re not applying fresh mulch just yet, this helps you gauge any erosion or runoff and remove any potentially rotten or decaying that may have occurred. This goes for your plant and vegetable beds. A benefit of removing old mulch and dead plants is that your compost pile is going to love the new additions and your gardens get to breath a bit deeper.

4. Pull those weeds! Even in super cold temperatures, pesky weeds will find a way to clog up your garden beds, walkways, and vegetable patches. Clear out as many weeds as you can so you’re not giving them a chance to get even more established before you start your Spring planting. If your ground is still too hard to pull them easily, wait a week or two to see if things have thawed a bit. Best not break your new garden tools on frozen ground.

5. Wild grass or weeds may have made their way outside of any borders you’ve created. Now is the time to edge your beds to get nice, clean boundaries that you can fill with pebbles, rubber, or fresh mulch when the time comes.

So now your beds are cleaned up and your lawn is anticipating your next steps. Congratulations! Spring is on its way and your outdoor spaces are going to be in good shape for Spring planting. Tidying isn’t always easy, but it is always worth it.

Don’t hesitate to call Full Circle Land Design for all of your landscaping needs. We service Chattanooga, Hixson, Red Bank, Ooltewah, East Brainerd, Apison, Cleveland, Lookout Valley, Signal Mountain, Lookout Mountain, and more.