It’s time for spring yard clean up
MetroCreative
Many people will be staying home to spruce up yards over the Memorial Day weekend.
MetroCreative
Trimming shrubbery is a popular chore during the spring.
MetroCreative
MetroCreative
Tending to yards after a long winter is a chore for many people once spring rolls around.
MetroCreative
Spring is the time to get outdoors and get your yard into shape.
Get the rakes and pruning shears ready.
Early spring means it’s time to come outdoors and clean the yard as warmer weather begins to set in.
First tasks include raking up dead leaves and twigs from the yard that were missed last fall and winter. Don’t forget to clean around flower beds, fences, walkways and patios.
“What people are doing is cleaning up leaves, cutting dead branches from shrubs and trees – now is a good time to shape them the way you want them to be,” said Valerie Sesler, Penn State Extension, Fayette County Master Gardener coordinator and interim area Master Gardner coordinator for western Pennsylvania counties including Fayette, Greene, Washington, and Westmoreland.
The exception, she noted, is spring flowering shrubs: “You want to wait until after they bloom.”
Spring flowering plants include azaleas and rhododendrons, said Sesler, adding the same advice applies to spring flowering trees, such as flowering cherry or crabapple.
“If you have fruit trees, you want to prune specifically for them to bloom,” observed Sesler.
Those who are not sure when their trees and plants might bloom can call the Penn State Extension’s garden hotline at 724-438-0111.
Once all this yard waste is collected, homeowners may want to try composting.
“If you don’t use a lot of herbicides, you can compost grass clippings, smaller twigs and leaves,” said Sesler, who advised also checking with your local municipality to see if it has a collection site for yard waste.
“Now is also a good time to do a soil test,” said Sesler. “You can find out if you need to add lime or fertilizer. A soil test will tell you what you have to do.”
Soil testing kits are available at the extension office for $9.
The Penn State Extension website also advises in an article on “Spring yard care tips for water quality,” “Inspect for bare spots in your lawn and landscape beds, especially if they are located on a hillside. A thick lawn produces less runoff than a thin lawn with exposed soil. Reseed grass in mid-spring, when the threat of hard frost is past but it’s still too early for most weeds to grow. Add a layer of mulch to bare planting beds anytime, and consider planting them permanently with native meadow plants or groundcover before summer heat arrives.”
Sesler said to consider the last frost date when doing spring planting. For this area, the last spring frost date is usually May 15.
“You can plant perennials now but for any vegetables or annuals, you should wait until the last frost before you plant,” Sesler said.
But this can be a time to start thinking about planting – what areas of the yard to use and what kind of plants to install.
Horticulture experts advise choosing native plants for yards and gardens.
Sesler noted, “Because they are adapted to the environment, native plants don’t require a lot of care, and wildlife use them for food.”
The Penn State Extension website explains in an article on native plants, “By definition, a native Pennsylvania plant is one that grew in Pennsylvania before the European settlers arrived, as opposed to exotic plants, which came from other countries after that time period. Natives have many advantages. Because they evolved here, they are well-adapted to our climate and are generally easy to care for once they are established. Many native perennials like less fertile soil and require the addition of little or no fertilizer. Perhaps the most compelling reason to choose natives is to preserve Pennsylvania’s biodiversity.”
So before selecting an exotic plant, check to see if there are native plants with a similar look.
For example, Sesler suggested that instead of using burning bush, Euonymus alatus, which is an invasive plant, install Virginia sweetspire, Itea virginica, a native plant.
“It has the same look and color as a burning bush, but it’s not invasive,” Sesler said.
More people are also becoming interested in pollinator gardens, which contain plants that provide food for birds and insects. These pollinators move pollen from plants to plants, fertilizing them to produce fruit, seeds and other plants.
Sesler referred to the Penn State Extension’s Center for Pollinator Research, which notes the importance of pollination on its website: “In fact, one of every three bites of food comes to us by pollinators.”
The website also explains, “Pollinators need our help. Both native bees and domestic bee populations are declining, affected by habitat loss, disease and contact with pesticides. Penn State Extension Master Gardeners are taking action to protect pollinators by planting pollinator friendly gardens and providing education for the gardening public. You can join this effort by providing food and habitat for native insects/animals. Pollinators will, in turn, provide the pollination needed to protect our plant diversity and food sources. Certifying your property as ‘Pollinator Friendly’ will help support a healthy ecosystem for our community and our future.”
The website gives information on how to create a pollinator friendly garden and how to apply for certification as well as a map that provides locations for these gardens. Visit https://ento.psu.edu/pollinators/public-outreach/cert for more information.
Whether doing chores or making plans, spring gives area residents plenty of opportunity to freshen their yards.
“Everything comes alive in the spring,” said Sesler. “One minute, it’s dark and gloomy and the next thing you know, everything’s green. It’s like a renewing.”