Spring Is Finally Here in North Carolina. Here Are 8 Tips to Get Your Yard Looking Good Again.

Spring has officially arrived—at least, according to the calendar it has. 

Severe weather forecasts calling for rain and high winds in parts of the state threatened to dampen weekend plans earlier in the month. Days are getting longer, and before you know it, we’ll be soaking up all kinds of vitamin D—especially with the return of routine yard work. If you’re ready to get your lawn in shape, these eight tips are for you.

Get Swept Away

Good for your yard and for your mental health, the basic task of raking lets you channel your inner zen master as you clear away winter’s remnants from your lawn. A quick rake goes a long way (and is a great job for any kids in your house, too). 

Not feeling up to the physical strain of raking? Lawn sweepers do the same job with less stress on your body. They come in push and tow-behind varieties and are available from retailers like Lowe’s and Home Depot. 

Family Handyman and Bob Vila both have good guides to help you decide what kind of sweeper you need—from those meant for leaves, lawn clippings, and pine needles to heavier-duty models that can handle rocks and other bulky debris. 

Get to the Core of Things

We’re talking about lawn aeration, here. Give your grass a breath of fresh air by making small holes in the soil to allow air, water, and nutrients to seep into the roots. Most lawns don’t need aeration, but if yours has a lot of foot traffic, heavy soil, or excessive thatch, it’ll benefit from a spring coring. 

Here’s how to DIY: Start by getting a spike aerator or a core aerator. If you’re near Cary, head into Garden Supply Company—it’s a one-stop shop for all things aeration (plus, you can pick up a few new plants while you’re there).

The Home Depot says that core aerators are usually best for large yards, whereas spike aerators are made for smaller yards or yard sections. Regardless of the type of aerator you purchase, you should go over your lawn in one direction, then go over it again in a perpendicular direction. Here’s a handy guide.

If you don’t want to fuss with new equipment, Wake Pro Lawn Care is a good resource in Cary. In addition to aeration, they do tree installation, mowing, maintenance, and a variety of other seasonal services.

Patch Things Up

Don’t let bare spots ruin your summer lawn game. Sprinkling grass seed is a simple way to ensure a lush and lovely lawn all season long. 

Start your DIY seeding by figuring out what kind of seed you need. Nature’s Seed breaks it down right here with a list of each growing climate and grass type in North Carolina. For example, if you’re located in the mountain regions, Kentucky bluegrass is best. Based in an area with warmer temperatures? Opt for Bermuda grass.

Fertilize Like a (Responsible) Boss

Give your lawn the nutrients it craves with a healthy dose of fertilizer—but wait until you’ve had to mow a few times. Waiting helps healthy roots get established first.  

To DIY, start by finding out which fertilizer you need and when to start spreading it. Check out North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service’s guide, which can help you determine what your lawn needs based on how it looks. 

It’s best to fertilize each season when you live in NC. Fertilize for the first time prior to March 31, then again before May 31. For summer fertilizer, aim to have your first batch applied by July 15 and again by August 15. Early winter fertilization should be done by December 31 at the latest.

If you’d rather leave it to the professionals, the folks at Agape Lawn Company offer a variety of helpful services for the Durham area and a breadth of gardening knowledge.

No matter how your lawn gets fertilized, keep the fertilizer from spreading onto sidewalks and streets by sweeping or using a leaf blower around the edges of the grass. Toxic runoff into your area’s water system can be a big problem for everyone—and bits of fertilizer on sidewalks can be dangerous for pets, whose paws easily track it indoors (and into their mouths).

Get Your Prune On

Pull on your gardening gloves and channel your inner Edward Scissorhands by trimming your trees and shrubs. While you might think pruning simply tidies up the yard, removing dead or damaged branches will actually encourage new growth, giving your outdoor space a clean, polished, and lush look. Of all the gardening-related activities, pruning is one of the easiest to manage on your own.

To DIY: Less is more. Start with branches or stems that are dead, dying, diseased, or broken. Prune “energy suckers” (long shoots growing out of the base of a tree) as close to the tree as possible. Water sprouts (shoots that grow straight up from the main branches) should be pruned to help prevent branches from overlapping.

When pruning branches that have buds on them, make the cut just after the bud—that’ll encourage more growth. When pruning older trees and shrubs with multiple stems (like lilacs), you can cut up to a third of the old stems to bring on new ones.

PRO TIP: To encourage new growth, always cut back to a bud or branch that’s growing out of the central stem or trunk, leaving about a half-inch between the bud or branch and your cut. Make your cuts on an angle that slants down and away from buds/branches.

Need pruners? The Strategist recommends the Felco F2 Classic Bypass Hand Pruners, but if you’re on a budget, the Corona 3180 Bypass Pruner will do nicely. And you can always grab a pair while you’re picking up some plants and a core aerator at the Garden Supply Company.

Want to get more specific about pruning? Check out the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

Keep it Clean

Don’t let those gutters get you down. Make sure your gutters are clean and free of debris before the spring rains set in. 

For you North Carolinians who aren’t afraid to get your hands dirty, you’ll need a few tools to get those gutters cleared out yourself.

The most important tool is a stable ladder placed on solid ground. Don’t overextend yourself when you’re on the ladder—it may seem like a hassle to move it continuously as you work, but you’ll prevent serious accidents by doing so. Safety is paramount when it comes to gutter cleaning, so wear protective goggles and gloves—ideally rubber ones. You can clear debris from the gutter with your gloved hands, or use a gutter scoop or trowel to get down into the nitty gritty. 

Once you’ve removed the bulk of the debris, give your gutters a quick rinse with a hose. The Home Depotrecommends using the spray setting, or you can use a power washer if you have one available.  

PRO TIP: If you find a bird’s nest in your gutters, don’t touch or remove the nest. This is especially true in the middle of nesting season as you can accidentally hurt or kill the birds and their babies. Contact a wildlife control agent at NC Wildlife Resources Commission to safely remove the nest for you. To prevent birds from nesting in your gutters, put up gutter guards. 

For gutter cleaning without the hassle, reach out to pros like North Carolina Gutter & Roofing Company. They provide services in several areas, including Durham, Chapel Hill, and Alamance County.

Sprinkle Some Love

Start by checking out the paths of your sprinkler jets, pruning back anything that’s grown out over the past year, or adjusting the spray pattern to avoid the vegetation. Even tree trunks don’t like being hit with repeated hard sprays of water. If you can’t change where the spray hits, try reducing the intensity of the jets.

Wipe off sprinkler heads, then check for leaks, low pressure, or any sprinkler heads that aren’t working, which you may need to replace. 

If you’re dealing with low-pressure issues, The Spruce recommends checking both the backflow device and the water pipes to ensure everything is working properly. 

Does all of this sound like too much trouble? Don’t sweat it. Rainy Days Irrigation Inc. installs and maintains sprinklers. Give them a call for advice if you run into issues. Because sometimes, it’s just easier to leave things to the professionals.

PRO TIP: Don’t turn your sprinkler systems on until overnight temperatures have warmed up. If it’s still freezing at night, leave your irrigation system off. Irrigation Solutions suggest checking nighttime temperatures on your weather app to determine the best day to turn your sprinklers on for spring.

Plan Like a Pro

Make a list of the plants and flowers you want to add to your yard. Get creative and have fun—this is your chance to make your yard truly shine. Perennials, like bearded iris, black-eyed Susans, bugleweed, and chrysanthemums work well in NC gardens. WRAL News suggests planting roses and tulips because they look beautiful and are easy to maintain. For vegetables, collard greens and kale thrive in the state.

PRO TIP: Avoid invasive species like English ivy and Japanese honeysuckle. These can disrupt the natural ecosystem and harm your existing plants.

Want to get more specific about your garden planning? Check out these guides on the 10 best vegetables to grow in North Carolina and the 10 best flowers to grow in North Carolina.

READ MORE: LIST: Cities With the Most Expensive Homes in North Carolina