The long Massachusetts winter is over, and the beautiful weather of spring has arrived. Though if you ask us, the 2019–2020 winter wasn’t much of a winter anyway — there was little snow and lots of warm days.
One of the first tasks we do on your properties when the warmer winds arrive in March and April is a spring clean-up. This routine maintenance keeps everything looking spotless and clean, improves business and can even increase safety.
While the spring of 2020 is a little different than usual due to COVID-19, breathing some life into your property after a long winter might be just what’s needed in this season of uncertainty. After all, research shows that beautifully landscaped properties are good for our health and good for business.
Out with the old, in with the new!
Here’s our guide to “spring cleaning” — use these tips and tricks to get your landscape to shine again. And if you’re a client of ours, you can use it to hold us accountable. (Though we’re confident you won’t need to.)
Get rid of dead weight & debris. — The first order of business is removing any debris left on your property after the snow has melted. This debris can be artificial, such a litter and trash, but it can also be organic. Common culprits include animal feces and leaves. Removing debris isn’t just for aesthetics — it prevents leaves and other organics from rotting on your garden beds or turf, which can lead to mold, mildew, pests and poor lawn health.
Edge all garden and tree beds. — When done correctly, a deep manicured edge will stop grass roots and weeds from creeping into a garden bed. It also makes mowing around flower beds easier and greatly reduces the risk of damage. Plus, we all know that it makes a property look impeccable.
Stop the weeds dead in their tracks. — This may seem obvious, but weeds need to be taken care of immediately, before they become a bigger problem. Spring is the best time to apply pre-emergent herbicides to prevent weeds from emerging in the first place.
Fertilize your gardens and turf. — Not every plant will need fertilizer, but for those that do, spring is the best time to apply it. Once the temperature is reaching 55 degrees on a daily basis, we start fertilizing.
Mulch as much as you can. — Fresh mulch can feel (and look!) a lot like adding a fresh coat of paint to a tired landscape. A 1 to 2” layer of new mulch in the spring offers loads of benefits for your gardens. For starters, mulch prevents weed germination and growth. It also helps the soil retain moisture and stay cooler as temperatures rise, which can really help keep your plants healthy during the summer heat.
Keep in mind that these are just the basics — a much more robust cleaning is done by our crews. We’re also sure to let you know of any issues or concerns we might notice.
Schedule a clean-up on your property today!
If it’s not part of your contract with us, or you’re looking for a new landscaping company to work with, don’t wait! Scheduling a spring clean-up today could save you from headaches later in the year.
While it depends on the size of your landscape, property managers should know that spring clean-up for commercial landscapes is a painless process and typically completed in one or two visits. Even during COVID-19, our property care crews are still working — with some additional cautionary measures in place, of course.
Don’t skim on the details — hire a landscape firm that’s as detail-oriented as you are. Schedule a site visit today.
