Each year, with springtime on the horizon, a number of homeowners become inspired to get outside and start boosting their curb appeal. Extended daylight and warmer weather seems to set the atmosphere for more outdoor activities. Many homeowners prepare for spring by getting involved with landscaping their yard. Below are 8 tips for spring landscaping:

Clean Up.

Cleaning up is an instrumental aspect of any spring landscaping project. This involves cleaning up the beds, garden and lawn. All leaves, fallen branches and other debris should be removed from the yard.

Fertilize Lawns.

The lawns should be raked, aerated and fertilized. Additionally, blank spots should be filled in to prevent crabgrass.

Preparing and Fertilizing Flower Beds.

In established flower beds, additional compost should be worked in around the plants for fertilization purposes. For new planting beds, a tiller can be used to break new ground. There is also the option of smothering and killing grass to make a planting bed out of an existing lawn. Raised beds can also be considered.

Planting.

Early spring is ideal for planting shrubs, trees and hardy perennial flower borders. In certain locations, tender perennials and annuals will fare best if planted in late May.

Prevent Crabgrass.

Fighting weeds before they emerge is, at times, the best thing to do. Waiting until they rear their unsightly heads could become problematic. Pre-emergent herbicides can be used to control crabgrass and spring is the ideal time for its use. When soil temperature gets to between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit, crabgrass seeds will germinate. Applying the herbicides in the spring prevents that from happening.

Pruning.

Prune trees and shrubs to get rid of dead limbs and branches. You could also take the opportunity to prune off live branches to make the plants more aesthetically appealing.

Trim Trees.

Promote health and preserve proper tree form by trimming the trees. Dead or dying branches should be removed. Additionally, crossing branches should be taken down and sprout near or at the bottom of the tree should also be removed. The health of the tree can be damaged by improper trimming; therefore, a licensed arborist should be consulted regarding proper techniques.

Mulch.

A 4-inch layer of mulch should be applied over all planting beds. This assists in reducing the quantity of weed that will surface. Emerging weeds can be hand pulled or sprayed with a glyphosate product.