This post made possible by site supporter Jane Brown.
There are things you can do now and in spring that will allow for you to have the best yard that will be great for summer barbecue fun. So, grab a hot cup of cocoa, sit by the roaring fire, and start planning your yard with our curated list of ideas.
Healthy Grass
Think back to how your yard looked last year. If it helps, pull up some pictures from last year’s gatherings. How is it looking? If it’s a bit sparse in areas, or simply looks like it needs a bit of refreshing, finding some great grass seeds should be tops on your list. You can choose between lawn, wildflower, and specialty blends (such as honeybee grasses to keep our honeybees thriving!). You can even mix it up a bit with some wildflower seed around the house and a bit of honeybee seed at the far end of the property, with lawn seed in between.
Pruning Now Is A Good Thing
Many people think that once it’s cold out, there isn’t much to do outside besides shovel snow. Really, there are things you can do to maintain a healthy yard all year long. If you have trees and bushes on the property, February and March are the perfect months to spend a bit of time pruning back extra growth. You want to avoid changing the shape of the plant or tree but you do want to ensure that it isn’t creating havoc on the property either.
Plant Trees For Shade
If you live in zones one through three, you are in luck. Early Spring, when the earth begins to thaw, is the perfect time to plant trees. It will give them time to acclimate to your soil and get some growth. They won’t be shade trees right away, but they will provide shade later on. Before planting any tree near the home, check with your local nursery to inquire about how the tree grows and have your property inspected to ensure that the tree won’t grow a root through a sewer or water line. Those of you residing in zone three can attempt to grow a few nut trees to add to your pantry (after you fight off the squirrels). Walnuts, hazelnuts, and pecans can grow and survive in a zone three climate.
For the rest of us who live in zones four through eight, we will have to wait until fall to plant trees. Of course, you can plan for it now. You also have a wider variety of nut and fruit trees to add to a bit of food sustainability. Just be sure to check which ones survive well in your zone.
Make A Map
If you want to do a major overhaul to the yard, now is the time to actually map it out and make it look like you want it to. Decide where the bushes will go. If you are adding or upgrading your deck, now is a great time to figure out how that is going to look and where things will go. Want to add a pool for summer? That should go on the map too. You want everything to flow gently and just right to make your yard the best it can be for the summer, and the rest of the year.
When it comes to the yard, it can be a lot of work. Remember to bring in the whole family to help maintain, plant, and build together to make it easier and a bit more fun. If you get yourself on a schedule for yard maintenance, remember to also schedule yourself a little time off for some family fun. The yard will be more enjoyable if all of you are enjoying taking care of it too.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
