Spring Yard Cleanup and Landscaping Prep

Start with spring cleanup

Before you can improve your yard, you need to clean up winter's mess. Fallen branches, matted leaves, and accumulated debris can smother your lawn, promote disease, and harbor overwintering pests. Getting these tasks done in early spring sets the stage for healthy growth all season long.

• Rake up leaves, twigs, and matted debris from lawn areas — this lets sunlight and air reach the grass crown
• Remove any dead annuals and frost-killed perennial foliage from flower beds
• Cut back ornamental grasses to 4–6 inches before new growth emerges
• Prune dead, damaged, or crossing branches from trees and shrubs — avoid pruning spring-flowering shrubs until after they bloom
• Clear winter sand, salt, and gravel from walkways, driveways, and patios — road salt residue can kill grass and damage hardscaping

Lawn care fundamentals

• Test your soil — a $15–$20 soil test from your local extension office tells you exactly what nutrients your lawn needs. Apply lime only if the test shows acidic soil (below pH 6.0)
• Overseed bare or thin spots — scratch the surface lightly with a rake, spread grass seed appropriate for your region, and keep it moist until established
• Apply pre-emergent herbicide — timing is critical. Apply when soil temperatures reach 55°F (13°C) for several consecutive days to prevent crabgrass and other summer annuals. Do not apply to areas you plan to overseed, as it will prevent grass seed germination
• Fertilize appropriately — cool-season grasses benefit from a light spring feeding. Warm-season grasses should wait until late spring or early summer when actively growing
• Dethatch if needed — if your thatch layer is over 1/2 inch thick, use a power dethatcher or vigorous raking to remove it
• Aerate compacted lawns — core aeration reduces soil compaction and improves water and nutrient absorption. Spring is best for warm-season grasses; fall is preferred for cool-season types

Garden bed preparation

• Add 2–3 inches of quality compost to garden beds and work it into the top 6 inches of soil
• Edge all beds with a sharp spade or edging tool to create clean boundaries
• Apply 2–3 inches of mulch to suppress weeds, retain moisture, and regulate soil temperature — keep mulch 2–3 inches away from tree trunks and plant stems
• Divide overgrown perennials like hostas, daylilies, and ornamental grasses to reinvigorate them and fill bare spots
• Inspect and repair any landscape edging, retaining walls, or raised bed borders damaged over winter

Irrigation system startup

If you have an in-ground sprinkler system, don't just turn it on and walk away. Activate each zone individually and walk the yard checking for broken heads, misaligned spray patterns, and leaks at connection points. Adjust heads to avoid watering sidewalks and driveways. Program your controller for spring watering needs — lawns typically need about 1 inch of water per week, including rainfall. Consider upgrading to a smart irrigation controller that adjusts automatically based on weather data.

When to hire a landscaper

DIY spring prep is manageable for small yards, but larger properties, mature trees that need pruning, or significant grading and drainage issues call for professional help. A landscaper can also handle tasks like stump grinding, retaining wall repair, and installation of new beds or hardscape. Book early — spring is peak season and the best landscapers schedule weeks in advance.