Landscape Spring Cleanups: How to Get a Tidy Property in Springfield, VA

Spring in Northern Virginia means more time outside. But to get your yard ready for outdoor fun, you might want some Spring landscaping tips.

What tasks should be included in your Spring landscape checklist, and when should they be done?

We know you might be stressed about everything that needs to be done to be ready to spend time outside, but don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. We’ve compiled this Spring landscape checklist to cover everything you need to know and answer your pressing questions.

Spring is a busy time for most people, and there’s much to do to prepare your yard for summer and beyond. But instead of getting overwhelmed, let us help.

Many people find that there is so much to do outside that they could spend entire weekends doing the work. Getting help to manage the long list of yard maintenance tasks that should be completed in spring can take a load off your back.

We’ll share some of the spring landscaping tasks that should be on your radar when preparing a landscape for spring. The first step is knowing what needs to be done.

Here’s your handy Spring landscape checklist:

✔ Clear yard debris
✔ Prune dead branches
✔ Weeding
✔ Replace or install new Spring color
✔ Mulching the landscape beds
✔ Edging for the finishing touch

We’ll talk about each of these landscaping tasks for Spring and also answer:

• When should I start landscaping in the spring?
• How do I choose landscape maintenance in Northern VA?

We hope you’ll feel fully prepared to tackle your yard this season!

✔ Clear yard debris

Landscape spring cleanups should always involve cleaning up any yard debris scattered on your property. This is important as your lawn care services get underway, as debris in the yard (like leaves and twigs) can create a barrier that prevents lawn care products from penetrating the surface.

Yard debris also makes your landscape look messy and can invite critters to take up residency. Unwanted yard pests tend to hide under leaves and twigs.

We often find that leaves which might have fallen after your leaf clean-up services ended (or blown from a neighbor’s property) are still left behind when spring gets underway. All of this should be cleaned up to make your property neat.

✔ Prune dead branches

Getting your ornamental trees and shrubs trimmed up is another essential landscaping task for Spring.

Spring is the time to prune many of your shrubs and ornamental trees. The benefit of spring pruning is that new growth will fill the spaces where you cut back.

Of course, knowing exactly when to trim shrubs and ornamental trees is essential, as this can differ based on the species. While many plants are best pruned in the spring, some are best pruned in the fall, and some can be pruned most times of the year.

Although it can be tempting to go out and prune everything at once, this is not ideal as it can cause damage if you prune something at the wrong time. Fortunately, by allowing a trained landscape professional to handle this task, you can be sure that the right plants are pruned at the right time (many of which will be pruned in spring).

Pruning is also one of those services that is more than just “once and done.” Ideally, you want to consider a pruning plan to keep your property continually looking its best.

The minimum for a pruning plan with Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape is twice a year, but this is not often enough for most properties. The sweet spot for pruning is every other month. When you sign up for a pruning plan, this becomes automatic. You don’t have to remember to call your lawn care provider because you’ll already be on the schedule.

✔ Weeding

Are you noticing a lot of weeds popping up in your beds? Early spring weeds in your plant beds might grow before your desired plant material. That’s why landscape spring cleanups should also include weeding.

Regular weeding will eliminate these eyesores, helping boost your plant beds' overall aesthetics. A property with weed-free plant beds automatically gets a big boost in curb appeal.

Of course, very few people enjoy weeding their flower beds. Weeding can feel like a back-breaking chore, and it’s simply not how most people want to spend their weekends. This is why you might want to consider a professional weeding program. This is an excellent Spring landscaping task to hand over to a pro. You’ll get better results without the pain.

This is another service that Kingstowne Lawn & Landscape can offer as a plan. This can be performed monthly or bi-monthly. Again, a big benefit of being on a plan is that your beds won’t have the chance to become overrun by weeds. Regular weeding will become an ongoing task, already handled for you.

✔ Replace or Install New Spring Color

Spring is also a great time to assess what's happening in your plant beds and potentially develop new Spring landscaping ideas. Are there shrubs that have outgrown the space or declined so much that it might be time to replace them? This is a great time to inventory what’s there and what might improve things.

Many homeowners are also interested in Spring flower installations. Sprucing up your plant beds with seasonal color can give your property an immediate boost in curb appeal.

Plant material plus a new layer of mulch (which we’ll discuss in our next section) are changes that can brighten up a dreary landscape and prepare it for Spring!

✔ Mulching the Landscape Beds

Mulching your plant beds is a great way to get your landscape looking Spring-ready. We’re not just talking about dumping a few bags of mulch. A professionally mulched plant bed will have a crisp, professional edge that looks fantastic.

Mulching sounds pretty straightforward, but that’s not always the case. Some common mistakes are over- or under-mulching. People don’t always realize that the amount of mulch put down is important. There is such a thing as too much mulch, as it can absorb available moisture and reduce the amount that reaches plant roots.

When mulch is heavily moisture-rich, trees and shrubs will develop new roots closer to the surface than they should be, as they aim to seek out moisture. These roots often circle trunks and eventually girdle and choke plants.

Excessive mulch will also fail to decompose over time, as it is supposed to. This means that every time you add a new layer of mulch, it accumulates even more. It’s not uncommon to see over-mulched properties build up as much as 12 inches of mulch after a few years.

On the same token, too little mulch is also not good. Aggressive weeds can break right through that layer, and the mulch won’t do much to insulate plant roots as it should be.

Because getting mulch done right is so important, we recommend leaving it in the hands of a pro.

✔ Edging for the finishing touch

Of course, plant beds look even better when they are also professionally edged. This is why we also recommend adding edging to your Spring landscape checklist.

Landscape edging is another small detail that can affect the finished look. That’s why it is another task best handled by a pro.

People like edging mainly for its aesthetic appeal. Creating a clean, crisp edge in a plant bed is a finishing touch that adds a lot of curb appeal. It also makes a nice delineation between your lawn and your landscaped beds.

When should I start landscaping in the Spring?

Now that you know which spring landscaping tasks must be completed, you might wonder about the timing.

There is not necessarily a definitive timeline for these tasks. Most people want to start completing these yard tasks as soon as the weather turns warmer.

As we mentioned, pruning can take longer depending on the species. For instance, you would not want to prune Azalea in late spring after it has set buds for the following season (as this will prevent it from flowering next year).

But for the most part, these Spring tasks can be performed at any time.

Regarding getting on a landscaper’s schedule, though, the earlier you reach out, the better.

Ultimately, you aim to get on your landscape professional’s schedule early to get the most out of their services. That includes starting services early in the season so your landscape looks its best as you spend more time outside. It’s also best to schedule with a landscaper before they get incredibly booked. Many landscape maintenance services in Northern VA get very busy this time of year.

Even better, you can ensure that these tasks are regularly performed when you sign up for a landscaping plan (like one for weeding, pruning, or mulching).

Keep this in mind:

• If you already had our plan, you'd have priority scheduling during peak season (which means less wait and better prices).
• If you had our plan, you wouldn't even have to worry about who will do the work, how much it will cost, whether it will be done, and when it will be done.
• If you had our plan, your yard wouldn’t have a chance to get messy in the first place!

How do I choose landscape maintenance in Northern VA?

This Spring landscape checklist might seem like a lot to tackle. You might want to consider handing these services over to a pro.

Besides taking some major work off your plate, one of the benefits of hiring a professional landscaper is that they will know what services are most important and when (and how) they should be done. There is only so much time in a day, and chances are, you don’t want to spend it working in your yard. You want to know that your property is getting everything it needs from a pro.

Fortunately, with the right professional, you can gain that peace of mind you’re after. Your landscape will look neat and tidy, not only in the spring but all year long.

Of course, you want to make a wise choice in landscape professionals. The truth is, not all landscaping companies are equally qualified to do the work. You must put in the time to research your options and feel confident that you are choosing the best landscaping company for your needs.

When you make that wise choice and you have a qualified landscaping professional on your side, you’ll gain peace of mind that everything is getting done right. That means all you’ll have left to do is enjoy your beautiful property.

If you’re looking for guidance on spring landscaping near Alexandria, Arlington, or Springfield, VA, request a consultation, get your customized plan, and relax as we give you the royal treatment.