Is Spring springing where you are? It sure is here in Texas, and I’m here for it! I’ve already started planting flowers and replacing some of the plants in our landscape that didn’t make our two freezes. The weather is perfect and I cannot wait to spend more time outdoors. Apparently, I am not alone in this.
Yardzen’s annual trend report compiles yearly trend data from homeowner requests and insights from our expert designers, signaling meaningful changes in landscaping style and functional needs. To date, Yardzen has collected responses from over one million homeowners across the United States, which makes this the most comprehensive outdoor design report available.
This year the data tells a story that homeowners are investing in outdoor projects that increase their enjoyment at home. With high interest rates, many homeowners are delaying an imminent move and investing in creating landscaping that makes them feel happy, whole, and connected. With that being said, let’s get outdoors!
*This post contains affiliate links. That means, while it’s the same price for you, I get a very small commission out of it that helps me and my family. But most importantly, helps fund my art and coffee addiction.
I have put together some general yard and outdoor tips to hopefully help you get started to enjoy your outdoor space.
Grass & Yard Tips
First, let’s talk about {probably} the biggest part of our yards—the grass. Whether you have Bermuda, Fescue, St. Augustine, or any other kind of grass they all have a little different maintenance requirements and I have researched the care for each one below.
It might be time to scalp your yard! Ok, so this only applies if your grass has gone dormant and you have not been mowing all winter (depending on where you live). If it is mostly green all winter, just mow at regular height. After the last frost of the season and the very first time your cut your grass this season is the best time to scalp, which means to put your lawnmower setting to it’s very lowest and cut the grass. Scalping your lawn removes the winter, the early spring weeds, and exposes the lawn to the sun’s warming rays. Wear protective goggles. It can be a dirty, dead-grass-flying job.
After you have successfully mowed and/or scalped your lawn it is best to fertilize. You can also fertilize your annual and perennial transplants with liquid or water-soluble, high-nitrogen fertilizer weekly for several feedings. That will get them off to a quick start. The same type of all-nitrogen food will work with most of your other plants, including trees, shrubs, groundcovers and even annual and perennial flowers and vegetables. To see your specific grass needs read below.
Here are the different types of grass and their requirements:
Bermuda– Wait to fertilize when at least 50 percent of the grass is green or is growing. As a rule of thumb, Bermuda grass grows when the air temperatures are 75 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, which occurs in late spring, depending on your area. Those living in the regions that receive mild winters can fertilize earlier in the season.
Fertilize your Bermuda lawn every 4 to 6 weeks during the growing season. Spread the fertilizer in the morning before the hot afternoon heat to reduce the risk of burning the grass with nitrogen. Nitrogen consists of salts, which dehydrate the grass when applied during hot or no water temperatures.
Fescue– Fertilize for spring usually around April 1st. Use a complete lawn fertilizer like 12-4-8 that contains a slow release form of nitrogen. (Oddly, I didn’t find a lot of info on Fescue grass care)
St. Augustine– Here is another option different from above. If you are in Texas, I follow Neil Sperry, a local and revered Horticulturist. I scalped our yard even though it hasn’t really greened yet. There’s no need to apply any fertilizer until after it has grown enough to warrant mowing. Additionally, a good rule of thumb is to wait until about 3 weeks after it’s begun turning green. This way, fertilizer isn’t wasted on grass that’s not yet active. Usually in North and North Central Texas fertilizing around April 1st is best.
Click on pics below to shop
Prepping Groundcover
If you have groundcover {this is Asian Jasmine} and have already had your last frost of the season it is time to use your weed eater/ weed whacker and cut all the dead off to the ground. If you do not have a sprinkler or irrigation system or can avoid the sprinkler heads, putting your lawnmower to its lowest setting is a very easy way to do this too. Our ground it too uneven and some of the sprinkler heads are super low so I use a weed eater. Yes, it will look like you are killing it. I can promise you it will not kill it! I got nervous the first time we did this and boy did it come back full, green and lush—as promised by a landscape guy I spoke to. It cuts away all the dead winter and promotes new, lush growth. It will grow back in a light, almost lime green then darken as it matures. You won’t regret it, I promise! (this is a picture I took today after I cut ours to the ground a week or so ago.) See how much it is growing?!
Mulching
If you have flower beds with mulch of any kind, now is usually a great time to refresh the mulch. I got our mulch at Home Depot for $3/bag!! So it is inexpensive and most bags cover 2 cubic square feet or 0.05 cubic meters. This not only refreshes the color (that usually fades over time), but it also helps prevent weeds. I do suggest picking the weeds out as much as you can before laying the mulch. But look how much better it looks!
Planting flowers
Planting flowers is my favorite part! I LOVE Green Acres Nursery (currently only in California & Texas) for my plants and flowers. They have an amazing selection, are always is great shape and their store is SO clean and organized it might make Marie Kondo jealous.
If you lost a few plants due to a freeze, now is a great time to replace them. Be sure to break up that root ball a bit after you pull it out of it’s grow pot before planting. This can help stimulate the roots. Using high quality soil is a MUST, and I swear by Fox Farm Soils. Fox Farm is a powerhouse blend of premium earthworm castings, bat guano, sea-going fish, and crab meal. These are all high in nutrients for maximum growth and health.
If you are new to planting flowers, especially in pots, you can always use the Thriller-Filler-Spiller rule. The thriller is the middle plant, usually taller than the others. Almost any plant with an upright growth habit can be a thriller. The pot filler can be a single plant species or a mixture of several different plants. Bright colors tend to make the pot look larger, while darker colors sometimes visually disappear in the shade. The spiller is a trailing or cascading plant that will grow over the side of the pot. Plants with interesting color or variegated leaves make a strong statement.
Thrillers:
- Purple fountain grass
- Aztec grass
- Flax lily
- Iris
- Lady palms
- Dracaena
- Topiary pruned evergreens, or Eugenia
- Ferns
- Snapdragon
- Bromeliad
- Asparagus fern
Fillers:
- Pentas
- Moss rose
- Pansy
- Petunia
- Polka-dot plant
- Alyssum
- Coleus
- Moss
- Various cooking herbs
Spillers:
- Variegated ivy
- Sweet potato vine
- Trailing begonia
- Moss rose
- Weeping junipers
- Trailing rosemary
- Fig ivy
- Creeping Jenny
- Trailing lantana
Here are some great examples of potted flowers with the Thriller-Filler-Spiller technique.
Shopping links
I have rounded up some cute spring and garden outfits and essentials to help you get started and enjoy being outdoors. I am also showing you some great flowers and plants that are sure to thrive in your yard or on your porch if you’re new to planting.
1 Gardening tools | 2. Watering can | 3. Straw Hat | 4. Linen Overalls | 5. Fun Gardening Gloves |
6. Floral shorts | 7. Striped Tank | 8. Waterproof breathable shoes
