Spring’s warm weather encourages families to spend time outdoors dining al fresco and entertaining. Landscaping can make your outdoor areas more inviting this time of year, but preparation is vital before launching into any gardening project. Whether you’re embarking on a large-scale redesign or minor outdoor improvements, these tips can help you make your next landscaping project a success.

Maintain Your Plants

Before launching into a landscape job, it’s important to take stock of what you have to work with. Assess your current trees, shrubs, and plants, and decide whether they work for your project. Pruning back branches, especially broken or damaged ones, can help your plants flourish. If you have diseased or unwanted plants, you might ask a professional landscaping company to remove them.

Test Your Soil

Testing your soil before embarking on a landscaping project can help your foundation support your grand plans. It’s a good idea to test your soil every few years, whether you’re landscaping or not, to confirm its pH and nutrient levels are in balance to optimize growth. You can get a soil test at your closest agricultural extension office or through a professional landscaping firm.

Trim Your Edges

Edging creates a border that separates your landscaping from your lawn. While an edged space looks neater and more stylish, this preparation step is also incredibly practical. Keeping your grass trimmed back prevents it from growing into your garden beds and up through paths.

Add Fertilizer

Fertilizer gives your lawns and plants an extra nutrient boost that inspires spring growth. Some state and local governments have guidelines for fertilizing, so confirm local rules with your nearest agricultural extension office before breaking out the fertilizer. If you can, apply your fertilizer shortly before or after light rain, as it absorbs better into damp soil. Most trees, shrubs, and plants love slow-release fertilizer before mulching. Unless you have cool-season grass like Kentucky bluegrass or perennial ryegrass, your lawn will also appreciate fertilizer this time of year.

Top Up Your Mulching

You should already be mulching to prevent weeds and control the moisture and heat your plants absorb. However, if you set and forget, you’re not making the most of your mulch. Mulch decomposes over time, adding nutrients to your soil. That’s a good thing, but it might also mean your mulch is thin when spring rolls around. A thin layer of mulch is much less effective at absorbing water during April showers and keeping plant roots cool during warm spring days. Add around an inch of new mulch, ensuring your mulch layer is no thicker than 3 inches.

If a DIY job makes you nervous or you just want a professional helping hand, the friendly team at Clients First Landscape Solutions is here for you. Our Dallas landscape company can tackle everything from small landscaping jobs such as installing fire features or patio covers to total redesigns. We take the time to listen to your needs and turn your vision into a reality, on time and on budget. Contact us to learn more about our professional landscaping services.