Spring and Summer Landscaping Tips
- If you haven't already, be sure to pull up your spent tulip bulbs. If you want to re-use them next year, be sure to store in a cool, dry place over summer. If stored properly and planted in the landscape next year, there is about a 50% re-bloom rate.
- By now, most all azaleas have finished blooming. Now is time to trim back your azaleas, only if it is needed! Any azaleas less than 5 years old usually do not need trimming every year. When pruning, do not use electric or gas-powered shears. Trim with hand shears to a desired shape.
- By now, your lawn should show signs of coming out of dormancy and "greening-up". Now is a good time to treat it with a dose of fertilizer. A 14-14-14 type of product spread at a rate of 1 lb per 1,000 square feet is adequate. Be sure to apply plenty of water afterwards.
- Fertilize your shade trees with tree spikes. They can be found at any Lowe's or Home Depot location.
- It is also time to start changing out flower beds from the pansies, violas, and snapdragons to summer annuals such as petunias, marigolds, begonias, impatiens (for shaded areas), and vinca, to name a few.
- Now is a good time as well to remove the existing layer of pinestraw or pinebark in your plant or flower beds, remove weeds, and add a fresh layer of mulch. This will provide lasting color and lasting protection against any further weed emergence.
- Keep an eye on rainfall! If you have an irrigation system, go ahead and activate it, run through all the stations, and make sure it is functioning properly and there is adequate coverage in all the key areas (turf, shrubs, trees, future new planting areas).
- Happy Spring!