April is the perfect month to prepare lawns and gardens for summer
While snow could still be in the forecast, that shouldn’t stop Denver homeowners from preparing their yards for the summer season. April is the perfect time to take steps toward a healthy, green, outdoor space that can be enjoyed in the coming months.
“Yard work shouldn’t be a chore,” said Drew Hojnacki, owner of Denver-based Green Works Lawn and Leaf. He advises homeowners to enjoy the process. “A great yard with a beautiful garden does not happen overnight, but taking the proper steps now ensures that you don’t waist valuable time, money or energy. We all have to the potential to have a great yard naturally.”
Prepare Your Yard Now for Summer: Six Simple Steps
STEP 1: Clean up your property. Debris from fall and winter storms sits on your turf, choking the grass out and allowing weeds to invade your weakened area. Give weeds a foot and they will take a mile.
STEP 2: Aerate your turf and turn the soil in your flower beds. Aeration helps alleviate soil compaction, which is a common ailment for Colorado’s clay soils. It also lets air and water seep into the root zone, which is great relief for both your grass and your water bill. Aeration is a “green” effort that doesn’t involve chemicals or products.
STEP 3: Fertilize. The grass that has been lying dormant for months is starting to wake up and it is starving. Feed it! Your waking turf craves a breakfast of natural high nitrogen fertilizer. It will green up and grow faster.
STEP 4: Evaluate your irrigation system. Water is a precious commodity in the West and its proper use is vital to a healthy lawn. Broken heads and leaky pipes lead to huge water bills and dead grass. A proper irrigation audit in the spring allows you to diagnose problems early and helps you determine how much and how often to water.
STEP 5: Prepare your equipment. Nothing is worse than broken or missing equipment when you need it. Track down those tools, get your mower serviced, sharpen those blades and be ready for the season.
STEP 6: Anticipate summer and enjoy it. Yard work does not have to be a chore. Instead it can be great exercise, build pride and add value to your home. Once you have a great yard, show it off! Invite friends or family over to enjoy the beautiful Colorado weather. Have a BBQ featuring your harvest, so you and your neighbors can savor the fruits and vegetables of your labor.
Hojnacki started Green Works Lawn and Leaf to provide homeowners with a professional, sustainable approach to lawn care. “We take a more long-term approach to lawn care and our goal is to fix the problem instead of treat the symptoms for our clients,” explained Hojnacki. “We do this by building up the soil with proper natural additives, instead of stripping it of valuable organisms with harsh chemical applications.” He encourages homeowners to prepare now for the summer months and to consider a sustainable approach as well. For more information, visit greenworkslawnandleaf.com.