Preparing Your Arizona Landscape for Spring
It is almost time for Spring here in the Arizona valley as temperatures begin to rise and the frost of Winter begins to melt away. While there is much to look forward to in the coming months, this is a very busy time for landscapes as they undergo change and transition for the warm climate to come. Participating in the right preparation for Spring ensures that your landscape looks its best following this transition.
Spring preparation includes many moving parts, especially when it comes to ensuring that each aspect of the landscape gets what it needs to transition. Our team here at ELS has shared some information on what they do with the landscapes of master-planned communities we work for to prepare for season change. These are great tips to incorporate into your residential landscape or to simply be in the know when it comes to best landscaping practices here in the desert southwest!
Spring Plant Cutbacks
Late Winter/early Spring is a great time to begin pruning plants to prepare for the growing season. Cutbacks allow for the removal of lasting frost effects such as dead/dying plant material as well as work to open the plant up so that it can receive more sun and nutrients at its core- promoting bloom as the temperatures warm.
Due to each plant species having its own blooming cycle and characteristics, some of this pruning may happen at different times throughout the Winter and Spring months. This is why it is recommended to follow a rejuvenation pruning calendar. This calendar breaks pruning schedules down by plant species. Following along with the calendar and ensuring that plants are pruned prior to the main growing season of Spring will ensure that you see beautiful bloom in your Arizona landscape as March turns into April.
Weed Control
Weeds tend to thrive in the heat and in an Arizona landscape where warm temperatures begin in February that means that we can expect increasing amounts of weeds coming through in the beginning of Spring onward. In order to prepare for this, it is important to apply pre-emergent herbicide where possible. This herbicide controls germinating weed seed, preventing some of the uptake of that seed and stunting weeds that do, unavoidably, find a way to sprout up into your landscape.
When it comes to weeds, it is important to take the proper precautions by applying the pre-emergent but equally as important to stay on top of later emerging weeds that will slip through the cracks and inevitably appear.
Preparing for Bermuda
Here in the Arizona desert, our climate calls for two different grass species: Rye Grass in the Winter (should you choose to overseed) and Bermudagrass in the Summer. Spring is the perfect time to begin revitalizing your dormant Bermudagrass so that it can grow into a lush Summer turf.
One of the best ways to revitalize your lawn is to apply soil amendments such as a soil conditioner (gypsum or sulfur are good examples). These conditioners increase water holding capacity, nutrients, and aeration to the soil to improve its overall structure. They also work to loosen compacted soils that may be locking up important nutrients and restricting water to plants.
Switching to Summer Annuals
As Spring transpires, it is a good idea to begin preparing your flower beds for Summer annuals. Summer annuals are warm temperature flowers that include a variety of species. A good way to start is to begin to pull out your Winter flowers as temperatures warm up and consider plant replacements where needed. When doing this, it is important to remember to add new soil and a balanced fertilizer. This keeps your landscape fresh and beautiful for the warm Spring and Summer seasons.
ELS Maintenance prides itself on caring for the landscape of our master planned communities and commercial properties. If you are interested in an estimate for work for one of your properties please reach out today!
