Taking care of your yard in the spring will yield bountiful and beautiful blooms through the summer. Follow the 6 tips below to prepare your yard.

Clean-up the Yard
Spring is an important time for yard maintenance and repair. Start by removing tree limbs, dead or damaged plants, and cutting down last year’s perennial foliage, and toss it into the compost pile. Rake mulch from beds planted with bulbs before foliage appears. Also check steps, fences, and paths for disrepair caused by freezing and thawing.

Organize Your Tools
Spring is the perfect time to take an inventory of what tools you have and what you need. By organizing your tools you will be able to easily see which tools are missing or damaged. Head to the local hardware store with a list and replace missing or damaged tools. This will help you maintain your yard all season long.

Mower Power
Annual lawn mower maintenance will ensure that your mower runs well and keep your yard beautiful and healthy.  Spring is the perfect time to sharpen blades, refill the oil, tighten nuts and bolts, clean intake screens, install new spark plugs and lubricate moving parts. Make sure to reseed your lawn before mowing.

Rake in Your Grass
Raking the lawn removes dead growth and winter debris. It helps bring light and air to the soil level, encouraging the grass to grow. Start by raking bare spots firmly with a metal rake. Sprinkle grass seed into a bucket of soil and spread evenly over bare spots. Keep well-watered until seeds germinate and the new grass establishes.

Make Your Beds
Flower beds require upkeep. Clear the planting area by removing sod, weeds, and debris. Spread a 4-inch layer of compost or manure over soil. Covering bare spots with mulch or ground cover will minimize the emergence of new weeds.

Sow Your Seeds
After you’ve made your flower beds, you can begin to fill them. Even though it may not seem warm enough, many trees, shrubs, and perennials such as hostas and daylilies should be planted by early spring. Now is a good time to plant cool-season flowers like poppies, calendula, and sweet peas, and vegetables such as lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, parsley, kale and spinach.
Source: Martha Stewart