It’s April! In my part of the world, that means longer, warmer days, and nature begins to come alive with the explosions of growth and colors. It’s the perfect time to get your yard and garden ready for spring so you can relax and enjoy everything the warmer months have to offer. Let’s dive into some practical tips to ensure your outdoor space is ready for springtime enjoyment. FYI, I may earn a commission from links in this article. I’ll probably use the money to buy gardening supplies.

Survey Your Outdoor Space

First things first, take a leisurely stroll through your outdoor sanctuary. Notice any rogue branches or bushes encroaching on your mowing path? Think about those sneaky low-hanging branches that seem to have a vendetta against your eyeballs or favorite shirt. Visualize your mowing route and strategize any necessary pruning to keep things trim, tidy, and safe.

Are there barren patches longing for a pop of greenery? Or perhaps you may notice certain areas overrun with foliage, engaged in a cutthroat competition for sunlight and soil nutrients. Take note, and consider some strategic repositioning or thinning out to achieve a harmonious balance.

Tools and Gear Check

Now’s the time to dust off those trusty gardening tools and give them a once-over. Is your lawnmower primed and ready for action, or is it sulking in a corner, covered in dried grass clippings, in dire need of a tune-up and a quick hose down? Did you accidentally leave old fuel in your weed trimmer and now the carburetor needs to be cleaned? Spare yourself the frustration of a stalled start on mowing day by ensuring all equipment is clean, fueled, and in top working condition before you know you’ll need it. Make sure your mower, weed trimmer, and other gas-powered tools have oil, fuel, and sharp blades or string. 

And let’s not forget those faithful pruning shears—have they seen better days? A bit rusty or dull, perhaps? Treat yourself (and your plants) to the efficiency of sharp, clean blades. Remember, a well-maintained tool not only makes your tasks easier but also helps prevent the spread of plant diseases.

Clearing the Flower Beds

As soon as the threat of frost wanes, it’s time to spruce up those flower beds. Gently rake away last season’s mulch and debris, making space for new growth. While it may be tempting to reuse mulch, beware of potential fungal spread. It’s often best to start fresh.  Toss the old mulch and plant debris in your composting pile (See below for information about composting.) to create rich new dirt that can be used to grow new plants. Making your own dirt is far cheaper, and more eco-friendly than purchasing plastic bags of dirt at your local big box store.

While you’re clearing your flower beds, this is also a good time to divide any perennials that may have started to get out of hand. Plants such as hostas and daylilies tend to spread and crowd each other after a few years. Dig down deep to remove bulbs that are crowded too close to each other. You can share extra bulbs in your local Buy Nothing Facebook group, on Craiglist’s free page, or on Nextdoor. Or, you can fill holes in your landscaping that you may have noticed during your initial walkthrough. You might be surprised just how many of your landscaping bare spots you can fill for free with plants that you already have. 

Pruning Trees and Shrubs

Get out your handy dandy pruning tools. Depending on your needs, you may require several types of pruning tools. I alternate between using three different pairs. The first pair is a long-handled pair of loppers with a short, curved blade. This type is ideal for pruning trees and bushes with thick branches. 

I have a pair of straight-edge hedge shears for pruning hedges and thin-branched evergreens. They are great for stylized pruning because it’s easy to make a straight edge. These are also perfect for trimming thick decorative grasses. I’ve even used them in a pinch in the place of a weed whacker to trim tall weeds on the edge of the yard or around obstacles such as mailboxes and swing sets. 

The third type of pruning shear that you may need is a small hand-held shear. These are ideal for pruning rose bushes, snipping off flowers for a bouquet, or any other small cutting task that may arise around the yard.

No matter what tools you choose, make sure they are both clean and sharp. Diseases and fungus can spread from plant to plant from dirty shears. Sharp tools get the job done much quicker than dull ones.

As you’re pruning, keep in mind that some plants can be easily propagated by simply sticking cuttings into the ground. I’ve done this with roses and wandering dudes. This is another great way to fill holes in your landscaping or to share the bounty of your garden with friends and neighbors. 

Composting: Nature’s Recycling Bin

Discover the magic of composting and bid farewell to store-bought soil forever. Whether you have acres to spare or just a corner of your yard, transforming organic waste into nutrient-rich soil is both eco-friendly and economical. And fear not the task of building a compost bin is as simple as drilling a few holes into an empty bucket or trash can.  If you have a corner of your yard that’s out of view, you can simply start piling garden and food waste there. If you have limited space, you can use a five-gallon bucket (If you have cats, or know someone who does, those big Tidy Cat cat litter buckets would work great for this!). If you have a little more space, a big plastic trash can would make an ideal compost bin. Making a compost bin is super easy. All you need is a drill. Use a large bit to drill several holes in the bottom of your bucket or bin. These will serve as drainage holes. Drainage is important to prevent your bucket from becoming stagnant if you get a lot of rain. Avoid stagnant water around your home as much as possible to prevent unwanted bugs, such as mosquitoes. 

After your bucket is ready, simply start throwing organic waste into it. You can use the old mulch from your flower beds, decomposing plants, egg shells, weeds, grass clippings, coffee grounds, and fruit and vegetable scraps from the kitchen. As you fill the bucket, stir it every now and then with a shovel. You’ll notice as you mix that the stuff towards the bottom will be more like dirt whereas the stuff on the top will resemble its original form. As the organic matter decomposes, it’ll create a rich, nutrient-dense dirt that you can use to fill your flower pots. It also makes excellent soil for growing fruits and vegetables. 

Know When to Mow

Ah, the sweet satisfaction of a freshly mowed lawn. Timing is key—wait until the threat of frost has passed before starting up the mower. I like to wait until the grass is obnoxiously long before I do the first mow of the season. The first spring weeds the dandelions, the dead nettles, and flowering wild violets, serve as food for the bees, my little gardening helper friends. 

Embrace efficiency with a well-planned mowing pattern. I am not a professional by any means, but I have finally developed what I consider to be the most efficient mowing pattern. It might take a few tries before you figure out the most efficient method for your yard. Feel free to experiment with different patterns until you find the ones that work best for you. It is advised to not mow in the same pattern every time, so try to mix it up to give your grass a chance to grow properly. I use a self-propelled walking mower. I like the exercise, and I like how it allows me to get closer to the edges of obstacles than a riding mower would. I like to start by going around the outside edges of the property, then the inside edges. I mow carefully around the edges, getting as close to obstacles as possible to lessen the amount of grass that I have to take a weed whacker to. I like to mow around all the obstacles first because those take the longest. By the time those are done, it’s a breeze to just continue running the perimeter of the yard until it’s all done. I try to avoid reversing and minimize unnecessary turns as much as possible.  

Trimming Tricks

My life changed when I found out that they make plastic blades for weed trimmers. I abhor the process of changing the weed whacker string. These blades make the job so much easier. They don’t randomly fly off like the strings tend to. They don’t break as easily, they’re far easier to install, and they last much longer. The only downside to the blades is that you can’t hold the weed whacker blades vertically like you would when you edge the driveway or sidewalk. If you don’t mind that, I think it’s worth it. 

So, fellow garden enthusiasts, what do you do to prepare your yard and garden in the spring? Let me know in the comments.