Spring landscaping is a big deal here in Kansas City, with so many homes boasting lush gardens and luxurious outdoor living areas. High Prairie Outdoors works with many clients honing the perfect lawn and garden for just this time of year. But, when is the best time to start thinking about Spring landscaping? This is a question we receive often. Fortunately, it’s also a subject we know plenty about.
To get our client’s homes ready for the Spring season, we have created this guide for pre-Spring maintenance and landscaping. Here’s what you need to know to get your outdoor area in tip-top shape for the Spring.
Post-Winter Clean Up – Late February/Early March
We get some pretty mild winters here in Kansas, but there’s still snow to consider. As the ground begins to thaw enough for you to uncover debris and gardening tools that may have been forgotten during the winter months, or blown into your yard during a blustery day, it is time to begin your Spring prep. Before any landscaping can be done, the yard should be cleared up for safety and aesthetics. Fallen branches, garbage, and anything else that has rolled in during the cold spell should be removed and discarded appropriately.
You may also want to start getting your outdoor furniture spruced up, dusted, and have cushions and other materials washed as they are likely musty from storage.
Inspecting your Property and Testing the Soil – March
Inspecting your property before you plant is important, as it gives you vital information on how well trees, plants, and flowers will fare, and whether changes must be made. Every Kansas garden is a little different, but here are some of the basic places to begin inspections:
- Soil pH – The acidity of your soil plays a big role in how well certain plants will grow there. Knowing the pH, not only gives you time to change it as time goes on but tells you what to plant in that spot in the following season.
- Shrubbery – Trees and shrubs take a beating in the winter, especially on cold windy days. Check your plants for broken branches, and overgrowth. You may need to prune or schedule a pruning with your landscaper.
- Irrigation – You’ll want to wait for a warmer day to check irrigation, but it’s an important inspection before your daily watering tasks begin. As the ground warms and the sun begins to shine on your flowers and plants, regular watering needs to be available.
Lawn Seeding, Maintenance, and Gardening – April
Your lawn and gardens should be showing promise in April as the wet season hits Kansas. All of that rain is going to produce some beautiful greenery and flowers in May. This is the season to get in there and begin arranging your lawn and garden to your liking. Hoping to install a water feature? Now is the time. Want to put in a path? April is the perfect month for brickwork. The ground is soft and pliable, but your gardens aren’t yet in full bloom, giving you plenty of opportunities to complete projects in time to enjoy them.
Fertilization – May/June
Lawns and gardens require fertilization a few times a year. In fact, you should begin with the first round in late Spring when the earth is warm enough to absorb the nutrients it offers. Some landscapers wait until Summer or even early Fall to fertilize, but it doesn’t hurt to give your lawn a few rounds.
You’ll know more about what type of fertilizer to choose based on your earlier pH soil tests. Be cautious about over-fertilization. That is – do not use too much when you fertilize. The bag you select should advise you on the lawn size it is best suited for. You can fertilize your lawn, garden, shrubs, and trees.
Contact a Landscaper – Anytime
Your local landscaper has the knowledge, tools, and experience to help you plan your garden, and ensure you are hitting landscaping checkpoints as you go. At High Prairie Outdoors, we work closely with clients to develop scheduled timelines for planting, pruning, mowing, watering, and more.
Interested in learning more about Kansas landscaping in the Spring? We invite you to give us a call at 1-816-398-2901. Nobody knows Kansas gardening like we do, and we are always happy to share our expertise, and support our clients in developing new projects, garden plots, and maintenance plans.
