Whether you’ve landscaped your home or business, keeping it in tip top condition throughout the seasons, is critical to its appearance and health. Fortunately, maintaining a stunning landscape doesn’t have to be hard or time consuming, all it requires is a little effort, and a lot of consistency.
If you’ve given your yard or business a professional makeover courtesy of landscape contractors in London, Ontario, keeping it looking good, all year-round is easy with these structured, seasonal tips:
Spring landscape maintenance (March through to May)
- Clear away any debris and damage from winter – do things like remove dead branches and leaves, and clear away any debris that might have built up during the winter months.
- Once early flowers have bloomed, prune them – lilacs, for example, should be pruned right after they’ve completed their period of blooming.
- Prepare and fertilize soil – test the soil, amend it as necessary, and give an appropriate dose of spring fertilizer to help encourage growth.
- Plant and transplant – with moisture in the soil at optimal levels, spring is the perfect time of year to plant new shrubs, perennials or trees.
- Start irrigation – now is the time to set up and turn on sprinkler systems, fix any leaks, and set the programming schedule for typical spring conditions.
Summer landscape maintenance (June through to August)
- Replenish mulch and control weeds – giving your mulch a refresh is important, as is keeping on top of weeds before they go to seed.
- Set up a watering schedule – choose whether to water your garden in the early morning, or early evening, and adjust the frequency according to rainfall levels.
- Monitor pests and check for disease – it’s vital that you remain vigilant and look for any signs of pests or fungal disease that could harm the plants and trees. If you spot anything untoward, take the appropriate steps to address it, and fast.
- Carry out a little light shaping and pruning – without causing unnecessary stress to your plants, do your best to maintain their form.
- Follow best practices for mowing – you can preserve moisture and provide shade for the soil by not cutting the grass too short.
Autumn landscape maintenance (September through to November)
- Remove leaves and clean-up – fallen leaves can create mold and suffocate turf, so it’s best to remove them during this time of year.
- Apply a final fertilizer – to help prepare your plants for the colder months to come, apply a slow-release fertilizer.
- Trim shrubs and perennials – after the first frost, cut plants back, but remember to keep some seed heads for winter.
- Add mulch and compost – before conditions turn even colder and freeze, refresh all of the beds with either mulch or compost.
- Prep for winter and turn off irrigation – winterize your irrigation system by blowing out lines and closing off valves.
Winter landscape maintenance (December through to February)
- Minimal maintenance is required – it may be more important to focus on managing snowfall and protecting any young trees from heavier periods of snow at this time of year.
- Plan and design – when less is happening in the yard, you can use the time to review your existing landscape and see if any improvements might be needed.
- Carry out storm damage checks – look all around your yard for broken branches, trees that have begun to lean, or damage to fences as a result of heavy snowfall or ice.
By following a simple, structured seasonal plan (or leaving it in the capable hands of professional residential landscaping in London Ontario), you can keep your landscape looking great for longer. If you don’t have the time or energy for such tasks, a local landscaping firm can keep your yard in great condition, whatever the season.
