Contractor Hotline's April E-News

Spring cleaning for your yard is just as important as it is for your home. If you want your lawn to be healthy all summer there are a few routine tips we recommend following each spring. First of all, remove branches, leaves, litter and other debris from your yard. Next, you'll want to de-thatch your lawn with a good raking. Generally, a thatch build up of more than a ½ inch is considered excessive. This is also a good time to spot holes or mounds of dirt which could indicate the presence of moles or gophers. There are several effective remedies to eliminate these pests if you think you have a real problem.

The next step is to mow, being careful not to 'scalp' the grass with the first mowing. Experts advise mowing down to two inches, but never removing more than ½ inch of growth at a time so you want to start early enough in the spring and preferably before the grass is over 2.5 inches tall. The shortened grass will allow fertilizers to reach the soil better and stimulate new growth in the coming months. And don't concern yourself with collecting all the clippings during this mowing. They will decay quickly and actually help fertilize your lawn, which is the next step.

After you have mowed, applying a good quality fertilizer that contains an effective weed killer will promote new growth and help keep your lawn looking beautiful. Fertilizing should be limited to late spring, early fall and late fall. Fertilize lightly in late spring for a lush, green lawn in summer and then concentrate most of the fertilizer application in fall. Too much fertilizer in spring can lead to disease and more weeds. Keep in mind there are many ways to keep your lawn healthy and attractive without using harmful pesticides or fertilizers. Click here for ideas and resources for natural alternatives to chemicals from Mother Earth News.

If you want to reduce your grocery bill and gain more control over the quality of the food you consume, consider turning a portion of your lawn into a vegetable garden. Even if you don't have a yard, many condominium or apartment dwellers with decks can grow a significant amount of their own food by container gardening. Once you savor your first summer salad from your own fresh greens and vine-ripened tomatoes you will wonder what took you so long to get started! Click here for useful tips from Mother Earth News on starting a garden from scratch.

An alternative to starting your own garden is to get involved in your neighborhood P-Patch. P-Patches have been around for many years and are gaining in popularity. They are a great way to learn about organic gardening, get to know more of your neighbors, and give back to your community. Visit Seattle.gov to learn more and to find a P-Patch near you!

If you have bigger plans for your outdoor space that require the help of a professional we have landscape and excavation contractors for most any project you can imagine. Spring clean-up and/or ongoing lawn maintenance, installation of new sod, tree trimming and removal, construction of retaining walls, patios, driveways, and irrigation systems, are just a few of the services we can assist you with.