When to start spring yard work

As the weather starts heating up many people ask, “When can you start working out in your yard?”

The answer is, of course, it depends.

Depending on what you are doing, what kinds of plant material you have in your yard, and what you want to accomplish, there can be many answers. Here are a few major milestones to look for when starting yardwork.

When to Start Mowing

A good practice at both the end and beginning of a season is to do a short mowing. When the grass starts turning green, give it a good short mowing. Usually you want to set your mowing height to between 2.5 – 3 inches. Shorter mowing that does not scalp the turf (cut into dirt) will help remove old growth from last year and encourage new growth to begin. You can do this as soon as all the snow and ice are gone from your lawn, but you won’t notice anything happening until temperatures warm up consistently enough that the lawn starts turning green as it comes out of dormancy.

When to Start up Your Sprinklers

Watering your lawn is a fact of life in East Idaho. We live in a high mountain desert, so natural rainfall can only go so far when it comes to supplying ornamental plants. That being said, care should be taken to not start up an automatic sprinkler system too early, as hard freezes can damage the components. Many areas require backflow preventers that are above ground. In the fall these should be drained as part of a winterization to prevent freeze damage.

In the spring you should wait until temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees before you start your system. You will also want to pay attention to overnight temperature forecasts during the early season. If temperatures are predicted to drop close to or below freezing, you should cover those above-ground components with an old blanket to insulate them and prevent damage. Most years, by May 1 we are past danger for hard freezes, but anything can happen when it comes to the weather in Idaho.

When to Plant New Flowers/Plants

Planting new plants depends a lot on the type of plant or flower you have. Many perennial flowers can be planted in the fall and will emerge as soon as soil temperatures allow it to germinate. These bulbs can also be planted early in the spring and will emerge when temperatures increase.

When it comes to bare root stock and annuals, they will usually not become available in nurseries until it is okay to plant them in our area. Your landscaper will also be able to direct you when to plant. If you have any questions, you can always ask a reputable nursery or landscaper for specific advice for your plant material and area.