Ask the Experts, Soil & Plant Analysis Spring Landscaping Tips March 6, 2024 It’s almost spring! With the weather in Texas beginning to warm up, it is important to start planning various landscape maintenance tasks to get your lawn, garden, trees, and irrigation ready for the season. Starting early is crucial if you want to have the best-looking yard in your neighborhood. If you are anything like our crew at Southern Botanical, you understand your outdoor space is a valuable investment in quality of life. A well-maintained landscape makes for a restful retreat for your family and an inviting space for guests. It’s best to start preparing before Spring fully arrives because it can greatly reduce the amount of lawn care, tree care, and landscaping issues that can accumulate over the course of the upcoming year. Let’s get ahead of the game! Here are some spring landscaping tips that you can incorporate into your project from your Dallas landscaping experts. Landscape Inspection & Planning Start off the season by inspecting your yard thoroughly and taking inventory. Do any plants that didn’t make it through the winter need to be replaced? Is your lawn experiencing soil compaction for winter foot traffic? Are there any obvious broken branches in trees or other safety concerns?+ Make a list of any dead plant locations and types so that you can plan for replacement. + Take note of any erosion issues that could indicate irrigation repair needs. + Notice any sunken areas of your lawn or abnormal soil compaction. + Check for any broken or potentially hazardous limbs on your trees. Pay extra attention to broken or damaged branches. If your large trees need pruning, it’s best to have them removed by a professional. Pruning your trees before or during spring helps keep your trees healthy. It also makes them more attractive, which gives you bonus points for curb appeal. Your lawn may be showing signs of decline, especially if it is subjected to a lot of foot traffic. Check for soil compaction, as it can lead to concerns with plant growth, soil drainage, and aeration. Cutbacks & Clean-Up After months of hardened or frozen soil, your yard needs a thorough cleanup… and some fresh air! Remove all the debris that has fallen during the winter. Rake the leaves and branches that have blown in over the course of the cold season. + Cut back ornamental grasses and perennials to allow for a fresh flush of spring growth. + Remove leaves and debris in landscape bed areas to tidy them up. + Rake up thatch in the lawn to allow for better airflow. + Tidy up any branches or other debris. Trimming Trees & Shrubs Spring is the perfect time to give your trees and shrubs a trim. Cutting off those dead branches now will make room for new growth to pop up. But remember, not all plants like to be trimmed this time of year. It’s handy to have a pro landscaper around to tell you which ones need a trim and which ones are better left alone. Timing matters, so plan accordingly! + Prune trees as needed for structure, safety, and tree health. + Hard prune woody shrubs to control the size and growth. + In general, wait to prune spring flowering shrubs until after they have bloomed. Prep for Weed & Moisture Control Once your outdoor area is thoroughly cleaned, it’s time to prep for the weeds and heat that will inevitably affect your landscape this summer. + Apply a pre-emergent weed control.+ Install a 2″ layer of mulch. + Make sure your irrigation system is working properly. Mulching not only prevents the soil from drying out, it also helps lock in moisture and gives your plants a nutrient-rich environment. Taking the extra step to put down a pre-emergent weed control can save you lots of time hand-pulling weeds in the heat of summer. Ensuring your irrigation system has no leaks or breaks will set you up for success! Replacing Plants and Adding a Pop of Spring Color As spring arrives, it’s the perfect time to breathe new life into your garden by replacing any plants that did not make it through the winter months. Adding a pop of spring color can instantly rejuvenate your outdoor space, creating a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere. With fresh blooms and lively greenery, your garden will be ready for friends and family to enjoy all season long. + Replace plants that did not make it through the winter. + Consult a landscape expert for hardier or native alternatives.+ Plant seasonal flowers to add a burst of color to your landscape this spring. Fertilization & Lawn Care Remember, the health and beauty of your plants and turf are direct results of your soil’s health. For best practices for turf fertilization, click here. + Get a soil test to see what nutrients are lacking. + Apply fertilizers based on soil needs and specific lawn and plant requirements. + Sand, level, and aerate your lawn as needed to address issues found during your inspection. Before fertilizing, it’s best to determine your soil’s nutrient needs. If your soil conditions require you to fertilize, we recommend using a controlled-release or a slow-release fertilizer. This will ensure maximum nutrient absorption. In certain cases, organic materials may be used. How about long-established trees? You might think that those huge trees in your yard are beyond the need for fertilization, but such is not the case. We recommend two deep-root fertilizations per year targeting root growth. Southern Botanical’s deep root fertilization program includes a yearly tree assessment by one of our ISA Certified Arborists at no extra cost. Tips for Testing Your Soil Your plants need a lot of nutrients in order to thrive. When the soil doesn’t have sufficient nutrients, otherwise healthy plants become vulnerable to insect damage and disease, have stunted growth, weak flower production, or manifest leaf discoloration. Your local Dallas landscaping services company can do a thorough soil testing and analysis for you. A soil test will help you bypass all the confusion and guesswork, give you clues about concerns that you need to address and provide a basis for a good fertilization program. Soil compaction can be remedied through lawn aeration. We usually recommend that you postpone this task until fall, however, if you become aware of compaction during your spring lawn checkup, at least you can set aside some time in the fall to take care of it. Keep An Eye Out for Signs of Pests The warm weather is not only favorable for us, pests love it too! There is nothing more disappointing than creating a beautiful landscape only to have pests destroy it. We have noticed that aphids, spider mites, mealybugs, and whiteflies are on the rise in North Texas landscapes. Remember that healthy plants heal faster. Plant the right plants, and plant them in the right place. Fertilizing and watering on schedule will also give you a healthy landscape that can better resist diseases and pests. Considering Landscape Improvements? Get Inspired Inspiration comes in many forms – by looking at landscaping websites, garden magazines, exploring your local nursery, travelling to other places, or simply by looking at neighboring yards. Next, it’s time to map out the decorative elements. Creating a landscaping blueprint will give you a better idea of how many materials and plants you need, allowing you to make adjustments where needed. Planning for New Landscape Installation It’s important to plan out your landscape before digging into the dirt. Will you tackle the job in phases? How can you layout your outdoor space so that it is not only beautiful but environmentally sustainable and functional? Think about the layout of your landscape, research about the plants you want to grow, as well as everything you need to get the job done. Proper planning will make your spring landscaping project easier in the long run. We encourage you to think about how large each plant will grow over time. Before buying new plants, research on their estimated height and growth requirements. This will allow you to space out your plants perfectly and ensure that you plant them in the best areas in your yard. If your construction and DIY skills aren’t up to tackling a huge landscaping project, hiring a landscaping company will surely help your outdoor space reach its full potential. Southern Botanical, your Dallas landscaping services experts, can help you plan for your landscape, choose plants and materials, and guide you through the process of creating a landscape that can be transformed into your family’s favorite space. Additional resources: Mulching Tips and Tricks, https://southernbotanical.com/the-benchmark/mulching-tips-and-tricks/. Best Practices for Turf Fertilization, https://southernbotanical.com/the-benchmark/best-practices-for-turf-fertilization/. Deep Root Fertilization for Your Trees, https://southernbotanical.com/the-benchmark/deep-root-fertilization-for-your-trees/. Keys to Effective Tree Pruning, https://southernbotanical.com/the-benchmark/keys-to-effective-tree-pruning/. Gardening Throughout the Seasons: Creating Color, https://southernbotanical.com/the-benchmark/gardening-throughout-the-season-creating-color/. Sources: (1) “Insects in the City.” Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, https://citybugs.tamu.edu/factsheets/landscape/lawns/. (2) “Planning the Home Landscape – Earth-Kind® Edition.” Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, https://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/earthkind/planning-the-home-landscape/. (3) Shober, Amy. Denny, Geoffrey. Reisinger, Alexander. Bea, Eban. “Soil Compaction in the Urban Landscape.” UF IFAS Extension, University of Florida, https://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pdffiles/SS/SS52900.pdf. (4) Rodriquez, David. “It All Starts with Soil.” Texas A&M Agrilife Extension, https://bexar-tx.tamu.edu/homehort/archives-of-weekly-articles-davids-plant-of-the-week/it-all-starts-with-soil/