After a Long Winter’s Nap

Spring! Yes, it’s just around the corner, and we are so looking forward to it! It’s been a harsh winter for the northern states. What appears in the center of your mind’s eye when you think of when you think of spring?

Yes, the snow will be gone. That’s a significant improvement, right there! Grass starting to straighten up and stand proudly, at least till the first mowing. But it’s actually green again, everywhere you look! Apple trees are breaking into bud all over the north and blossoming with the welcome white and pink flowers we love. Johnny Appleseed would be proud.

What about under those trees, though? And against the walls and fences? Caught in with the mulch? Dead leaves, bits of paper, and debris falling to the ground by the melted snow. It looks like it’s time for spring cleanup!

Spring cleaning occurs in hundreds of thousands of homes across the country and the world. Spring is a time for renewal, and for most of us, we enjoy the freshness of everything clean and updated. Sparkling helps, too.

Once your thoughts turn to spring cleaning, you think about the outside areas and what needs to be done there. It’s a daunting task, and you’ll have little help from your family – nobody really wants to take the chance of touching something slimy or using a shovel and rake to dispose of organic waste. But, apple trees or not, you will need help.

You already have a partnership with Rish’s Complete Lawn Care, right? They mow, mulch, aerate, and trim whatever needs those services. Did you know that they do seasonal cleanups also? Yes! That includes spring cleanup! Call them!

What makes a spring cleanup?

Let’s just go over the primary tasks at hand, shall we?

• Lawn cleanups. This includes raking and removing trash and leaves. 
• Tree trimming and pruning. Trees get a challenging job during the winter. Snow is heavy. Some tree limbs crack and break and can be a hazard. Some trees, like apple trees, need extra pruning to be more productive in producing fruit. Let’s get that stuff taken care of, so the trees will be healthy.
• Mulch cleanup and replacement. Mulch can get old. After a few seasons, some of it is little more than dust. Rish’s gurus can remove the old mulch and install new mulch. Your input will be significant since new mulch can add new color and texture to your landscape.
• Check for disease, molds, mildew, fungus, and pests. Snow mold is a real threat to lawns and must be removed as soon as it’s noticed. It can take some extreme measures to get rid of it, but your landscape crew knows all about it. 
• Check out the irrigation or sprinkler system to replace or repair parts damaged by the snow or freezing temperatures.

Getting all that done will renew your property and make room for changes you’ve been considering. If you’re worried about cost, call Rish’s and ask for an estimate of the work that needs to be done and the anticipated cost.

And after the cleanup…

Your lawn will look great. Freshly mowed and all the winter trash is gone (including some big buttons and a shriveled carrot or two), the green seems to go on and on. Beautiful!

Look at your trees and shrubs and hedges. They look fantastic after all the trash has been dislodged from the ground surrounding the roots, and the bits of paper and other stuff have been removed from branches and twigs. The trimming and pruning have left them in a state of good health. If you are one of the lucky Pennsylvanians to have fruit trees, the buds should be opening any time, and the scent will be intoxicating.

The mulch replacement might seem slightly unnecessary when first mentioned, but the new mulch is such a great color against your house. So many houses choose black mulch, but it could really be any of the colors available. Putting mulch around the roots of the trees, shrubs, and hedges has also changed their looks. The well-defined borders between grass and flower beds will make it easier to mow, and the mulch will help prevent weeds from rearing their heads and keep the soil from eroding and washing away. A plus all around!

Unfortunately, your landscape gurus found some places where snow mold took hold. They had to remove the grass in those areas but have already started applying fertilizer and seed to regrow the grass. It will be great in almost no time. 

The irrigation system seems to have survived the winter with minimal damage. It’s a good thing you agreed to have Rish’s Landscaping Services flush the system and blow it out when the first freeze hits, or you might be replacing a lot of it. You know what that means, digging up the hoses and pipes, making a mess of the lawn, more expense. Good choice in getting that service done!

So, what’s next? Filling in your flower beds, of course! Some plants didn’t survive, even though a deep layer of mulch was installed. It was a hard winter. Did you bring out the bulbs we stored before the first freeze? It looks like those all made it in their storage bin; they can be replanted. But for the rest… Yes! A trip to the garden shop! Flowers, new tools, landscape accents, new garden shoes or boots, wind chimes, the garden shop has it all. The kids love that place and always join you, clutching miniature creatures and houses to hide among the flowers. 

Placing the flowers and other items will be a pleasure, now that everything else is looking so great in your landscape. Beautiful blooms that will spread beauty and scent through your house and property. You could have possibly done it all, with a lot of energy and strength you might not have to spare. But you had Rish’s Landscaping Services to help. Good job!