Article by Sam Waggener, City Forester
As winter slowly starts to release her cold grip along the front range, property owners might be eager to embrace the changing seasons. While one might think spring cleaning is only inside of the home, you should also be paying attention to the outside. Spring cleaning and yard clean up play a critical role in the aesthetics of your home and are essential in wildfire mitigation efforts. If you are getting the itch to spruce up your yard like I am, the best place to start is in the garage- doing maintenance with equipment, sharpening tools, disinfecting pruning tools, lubricating moving parts, and replacing any damaged tools.
Weed out the competition
A great way to kickstart the work in your yard is weeding out the garden and all around your property. Weeds are the first thing to start growing, and the second they get a chance to hit sunlight- watch out! Weeds not only inhibit native vegetation growth and decrease the amount of nutrients for trees and surrounding vegetation, but noxious weeds can also cause a detriment to properties surrounding your home.
Noxious weeds aren’t just unsightly, either- they increase wildfire risk. Pay particular attention to hardscape. If left overgrown, weeds can start to throw off the balance of stepping stones and create crevices to allow for water to seep into and ice to accumulate, potentially creating a variety of safety concerns. Once the weeds are taken care of, make sure repairs to hardscapes are completed promptly to avoid further deterioration.
Another quick tip: most of these hardscapes are made from lime or a form of calcium. In winter, many of these appear to have a white film. You can easily wash this away with water for a quick spruce up, but keep in mind that these deposits will continue to return until spring temperatures reach a balmy 70 degrees.
Pruning for growth
After annihilating those pesky weeds and the weather is nice enough to get outside, time to inspect! Start by looking for winter damage, broken branches, split bark, or signs of disease, and look to decrease the amount of dead vegetation. Dead or dying material can trap moisture, air, and sunlight; harbor unwanted pests and diseases; and create a fire hazard when dry. Removing this material allows for soil and plants to receive much-needed oxygen for microorganisms. Structure pruning or pruning for growth allows for a tree to allocate its resources elsewhere it is needed, for new growth! Look to recycling that material either as compost or urban wood utilization. Winter is the best time to prune trees, but it might be needed in the spring for deciduous trees to identify dead branches. The removal of dead material can improve the structure, reinvigorate growth, increase air circulation, prevent the spread of disease, increase sunlight penetration, and decrease fire risk. If you are new to pruning check out this quick article.
Soil aeration and fertilization
Revive your lawn and trees by raking away thatch material, aerating to allow for better water absorption (watch out for tree roots!), seeding and fertilizing, and choosing a slow-release fertilizer that will ensure landscaping is fed for longer and not washed away during storm events. It may be tempting to break out the mulch the second you prune and divide your perennials, but this insulating layer can slow down the natural thawing process. Apply mulch around your trees, shrubs, and perennials several weeks after the final frost and once you have consistently warm temperatures. Mulch retains heat and
moisture, which could trick a plant into sprouting too early, causing frost/freeze damage. Mulch should be 2-3 inches in depth. For trees, it is best to extend out to the dripline, but most importantly do not pile mulch at the base of a trunk. Mulch at the base of the tree trunk/stem can lead to girdling roots, and trunk/root rot and increase the chances for disease and pests.
Water wisely!
Adequate water supply is crucial to the health of a tree, especially in Colorado’s dry seasons. The first thing you should do is inspect your irrigation system. Your landscape provider should check for any leaks and ensure your system is in good working condition. During the growing season, irrigation should be inspected and adjusted accordingly to promote sustainable use of resources. Modern irrigation systems now have smart controls that not only can sense the amount of water that has fallen in the past few weeks, but many systems now can even be controlled from your smartphone!
Promoting biodiversity
After all systems are a go and the calendar has passed Mother’s Day it is time to promote new growth. Look to enhance the landscape with water-wise or xeric species, many of these species are pollinator-friendly. Other species could include native, salt tolerant, and species that promote biodiversity. Installing new plants early in the spring allows for ample time to become established before the summer temperatures arrive. Many of these species once established take minimal amounts of water and increase the local flora and fauna. Not only increasing the pollinator habitat but saving you money in the long run. Have questions on what species will be a good fit on your property? Take a look at the new forestry and landscaping page!
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected]. Happy planting!