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Outdoor Spring Maintenance Tips
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Rake the Lawn
Start winter cleanup of the lawn by raking dead growth, stray leaves, twigs and winter debris. By doing this will expose the soil to light and air will encourage the grass to grow.
Reseed Bare and Damaged Patches of Lawn
Delineate the areas that need to be repaired by digging around bare or damaged area. Remove and discard any poor grass and weeds within the area. Keep the remaining bare soil free of debris. Apply organic matter, slow-acting fertilizer, and grass seed to the area and rake the soil smooth and level.
Transplant Shrubs
Transplant any existing shrubs you want to move before they begin to leaf out.
Cut back Perennials and Ornamental Grasses
Cut back any remaining dead perennial foliage from last season and ornamental grasses.
Remove Weeds
Weeds start growing early. Start early in the season by pulling them out by hand or applying herbicides to the lawn.
Create Planting Beds
Prior to cutting in your planting beds, make sure the soil is ready. A handful of soil should fall apart and not stick together. When its dry enough, dig beds and add compost or manure in preparation for planting.
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Apply Fertilizer
While it is more important to apply fertilizer in the fall, a spring feeding strengthens roots and gets lawns off to a good start before the heavy growing season. In most regions, it is wise to apply a combination fertilizer with a pre-emergent to control crabgrass. Lawns can be fertilized organically by using compost or chemical fertilizers. It is recommended that a light fertilization take place in the spring, while a heavier fertilization take place in the fall. Too much fertilizer in spring can lead to disease and weed problems.
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