Did you know that spring is the perfect time for a garden makeover? Cleaning up your outdoor space after the long winter not only helps it look fresh, but also makes it more enjoyable so you’ll actually use it! Spring is the time when plants come back to life and rapid growth occurs. Some judicious pruning and garden clean-up can set the course for great summer foliage. Follow these simple tips to get your garden ready for summer. From disposing of dead leaves and twigs to getting rid of unwanted weeds and putting away unused outdoor furniture, spring is the perfect time to give your outdoor space a much-needed refresh. So say goodbye to all those fallen leaves, broken branches, and withered vines by following our 10 tips to spring-clean your garden!
Remove leaves and twigs
As the temperatures rise, you’ll start to notice all the fallen leaves, twigs, and vines that have been dying off all winter. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start cleaning up! This one simple spring chore can make a big difference when it comes to your outdoor space. You don’t want leaves and twigs cluttering up your garden, especially if you have kids or pets that will be spending a lot of time outdoors. They can be a safety hazard, and they also don’t look very appealing. Be sure to clean up around outdoor furniture, too—you don’t want all those leaves, twigs, and vines to get stuck in the crevices of your patio set!
Prune, especially fruit trees
While you’re making a pile of twigs and branches, you may as well add to it. Now is the time to prune back any trees that have gone bushy during winter. This is especially important for fruit and citrus trees. They need to be kept open and airy to maximize growth. You also want to see what trees are shading the garden and whether you want to prune back to allow some more light through.
Trim overgrown plants
Certain plants will grow like weeds, even in the dead of winter—especially if you’ve let the soil around them get too dry. If you notice any areas of your garden are starting to get a bit overgrown, use pruners to trim them back. This will help you reduce the amount of water your thirsty plants will need and help maintain a neat, tidy look throughout your garden. Just be sure to only snip off the tips of the stems—not the whole plant! This way your plants will be able to absorb the water and nutrients they need to keep growing and flowering.
Weed your garden
It may seem like you’re doing your garden a favor by letting a few weeds grow, but let’s be honest—they don’t belong there! If you’ve been gardening for any length of time, you know weeds will grow in your garden regardless of how hard you try to keep them out. So instead of wasting your time pulling the weeds by hand, invest in a good herbicide. You’ll still need to pluck out the occasional stubborn weed before it can wreak havoc on your garden, but this way you’ll be able to get rid of the rest in one fell swoop. Be sure to read the directions carefully so you don’t end up doing more damage to your garden than good!
Dispose of dead plants
Just like you need to trim back the parts of your garden that have grown too tall, you also need to get rid of the plants that have stopped flowering. Whether it’s an old bouquet you put out for spring, or a potted plant that’s lost its luster, you need to get rid of it. Don’t just leave it there and let it die—it’s unsightly, and you risk it spreading disease to your other plants. Instead, rip off the flowers from bouquets and get rid of any wilted plants. They’re just taking up space, and they’re not doing anybody any good! You can compost the flowers or put them in the compost bin, and you can either throw wilted plants in the trash or give them to your local garden center.
Get professional gardeners to clean up
This might seem like cheating but sometimes it is hard to see the wood for the tree (if you pardon the pun). A
yard clean-up service will remove a massive amount of weeds and clutter in one day and then you’ll be able to see what you need to do. Professional gardeners will come in with the right tools and accomplish in one day what would have taken up many weekends of your time. You can then enjoy the process of transforming your and make it ready for summer.
Deep clean your outdoor space
Now that you’ve gotten rid of all the debris and weeds in your garden, it’s time to do a thorough clean to get your outdoor space looking its best! You don’t want to just give your patio furniture a quick wipe-down—you want to really go in and make sure you’ve got every surface spotless. Use a garden hose to spray down all surfaces, including your deck, patio, furniture, and plants. You can even use a mild bleach solution if your patio is particularly dirty. Do a thorough sweep of your deck and patio, too, especially the corners and crevices where dirt tends to hide. And if you’ve got a wooden deck that tends to collect a lot of dust, you can use a soft brush to get it squeaky clean.
Put away unused furniture
Now that you’ve deep cleaned your patio furniture, you need to put it away before the summer heat comes around. You don’t want to leave your table and chairs sitting out in the open all winter, even if they’re covered in a tarp. They’ll be exposed to the elements, and they could end up getting damaged before you even get a chance to use them again. This is especially important if you live in an area with a lot of inclement weather. Be sure to get your outdoor furniture out of the elements and store it away in a dry, protected area. You can use patio covers to protect your furniture if you don’t have an indoor storage space.
Conclusion
You’ve now got your garden looking cleaner than ever! Now it’s time to sit back, relax, and enjoy your freshly cleaned space. You can spend your spring and summer weekends lounging on your deck, or enjoying a nice game of backyard baseball with your friends and family. And you can be sure that your garden is ready for any summer parties you plan on hosting!
