Spring checklist for a GTA property

What you do in April decides how the property looks in July. Most of it is cheap and most of it is skipped.

Once the ground firms up

• Clear plow sand and road salt off lawn edges and flush the driveway strip
• Rake matted turf so new growth gets light and air
• Remove winter debris from beds before growth starts
• Cut back perennials left standing for winter interest
• Re-cut bed edges to a clean line
• Top up mulch to two or three inches — do not rebuild the layer
• Check retaining wall drainage outlets are clear
• Inspect interlock for winter movement and top up joint sand
• Start the irrigation system and check every head
• First cut at a moderate height, never a scalp
• Pre-emergent and first feed on the lawn

Order matters

Do the salt flush before seeding or sodding the driveway strip. Seed into salted soil dies exactly like the grass before it.

Spring clean-ups