May 6th

By Mutt Mulligan

Checklist for getting your backyard ready for summer fun

The family yard is extension for the home – providing a respite from stress, offering an outside entertainment area, expanding living space, and giving kids and pets and a safe place to play. Your backyard is also where memories are made!

To  help you prepare your outdoor living room for warmer weather, TurfMutt offers this checklist.

Take Stock of Equipment: Need to update, upgrade or replace outdoor power equipment, like a lawn mower, hedger/trimmer or edger? Want to install a water solution like a smart irrigation system? Now’s the time. At the very least get your lawn mower serviced and its blade sharpened so it’s ready for action.

Clean Up: Walk over your lawn and clean up any debris that has collected over the winter. Pro tip: a leaf blower makes quick work of sprucing up flower beds.

Fix Bare Patches: A carpet of turfgrass is a welcome invitation for kids and pets to play and sets the scene for the outdoor living room. Overseed bare patches to fill in the lawn.

Right Plant, Right Place: Plan out the plants that will be used in your yard. More than knowing what the plant needs (sun, shade or a bit of both) – the “Golden Rule” of Right Plant, Right Place is about considering lifestyle needs, too. Sturdy, yet soft foliage should go near pathways. Delicate plants should be placed in patio pots or elevated planters. Toxic plants should be avoided when pets are in the picture.

Mulch: Mulch creates a polished look around flower beds, shrubs and trees. It also provides a buffer from hot temps and keeps water where it’s needed – at the plant roots.

To learn more about the importance of our living landscapes and for more tips on how to care for them, go to SaveLivingLandscapes.com.