Essential Springtime Lawn Cleanup Tips You Need to Know

As winter finally loosens its grip, we find ourselves shaking off the chill and stepping into the burgeoning warmth of spring. The air is filled with the melody of birdsong, familiar faces of neighbors reappear, and the remnants of winter become visible in our yards. This includes autumn leaves that have outlasted the winter, branches brought down by icy winds, stray newspapers and packaging, and the inevitable signs of neighborhood dogs. This is the time to start thinking about Springtime Lawn Cleanup in Calgary

Just as we refresh our homes with a thorough spring cleaning after a long winter, tidying up our yards can enhance our outdoor living spaces. It also gives your lawn and gardens a boost, helping them to flourish by the time summer rolls around.

Ignoring yard cleanup can have detrimental effects on your property throughout the spring and summer months. Apart from the obvious visual concerns, the debris can suffocate your lawn and plants, causing brown patches on the grass and loss of perennials.

Here’s an Effective Approach to Spring Yard Cleanup Cleaning your yard might seem overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be. Here are some handy tips to make the process easier!

1. Assess the Situation Once the Snow Disappears. It’s Time to Get Started on your Springtime Lawn Cleanup

As soon as the snow melts away, evaluate the type and quantity of debris and plan your cleanup strategy. Dress comfortably, step outside, and breathe in the fresh air.

You might find these tools useful:

• Gardening or work gloves
• Comfortable footwear
• Yard/leaf rake
• Aerator
• String Trimmer
• Pressure Washer
• Garden Saw
• Small leaf rake for the garden
• Wheelbarrow or cart
• Garbage bags
• Paper yard waste bags
• Recycling bin
• Pruning snips or scissors
• Twine (for bundling twigs and branches)

2. Collect, Clean, and Dispose

Start by picking up fallen branches, twigs, stray newspapers, packaging, pine cones, leaves, and pet waste. A thorough raking in the fall can help prevent the fungal disease known as snow mold. Even if there aren’t many leaves, a deep raking can help control thatch build-up by removing dead grass and making room for new growth. It’s like giving your lawn a scalp massage. Ensure the ground is dry before you start raking to avoid uprooting the grass. Leaves, branches, and twigs can usually be collected, bundled, and bagged as yard waste in most areas – pet waste is generally not suitable for composting.

Prepare Your Garden Beds Begin your garden spring cleanup by composting any dead annual plants that remained over winter. Also, remove any dead leaves and stalks from perennials and ornamental grasses that you didn’t clear away in the fall. Scissors can be more effective than pruners for this task as they can reach tight spaces more easily.

Remove any thick layer of mulch (including matted leaves that have blown into the garden) to allow perennials to emerge freely. The timing for this will depend on your location and how quickly the seasons change.

3. Get Your Lawn Mower Ready For Springtime Lawn Cleanup

Even though you might not need to mow the lawn immediately, it’s good to have your lawn mower ready for when the time comes. If you didn’t change the oil or replace the spark plugs in the fall, now is the time to do so. Lightly lubricate the wheel bearing, height adjuster, and any other moving parts according to the manual. It’s also a good idea to have the lawn mower blades professionally sharpened for an even cut.

4 .Where Does The Yard Waste Go after your Springtime Lawn Cleanup?

After you’ve finished tidying up your yard, you might be pondering what to do with all the collected waste. In Calgary, there are several options available for disposing of your yard waste. The City of Calgary encourages residents to fill their green carts first with yard waste, either loose or in paper bags. If your green cart is full, you can place extra yard waste in paper yard waste bags for pickup¹.

The City also offers a landfill service for residential households that wish to dispose of extra material quickly or for yard waste that is too large for the green cart¹. Some larger yard waste branches are chipped into mulch and made available for residential use¹. Additionally, compost is available for pickup from April 24 to June 10, by online appointment only, at Shepard and Spyhill landfills¹.

These programs not only help keep our communities clean but also contribute to environmental sustainability by diverting significant amounts of yard waste from landfills each year. The collected yard waste is transformed into compost, a nutrient-rich soil that is used in parks and public gardens. In some areas, this compost is even provided to the public for free¹. This is a great way to recycle your yard waste and create nutrient-rich soil for your own garden. Remember, each municipality may have different rules and schedules for yard waste collection, so it’s a good idea to check with your local waste management facility or city hall. Happy gardening! 🌱

Typically, the following types of yard waste are accepted:

• Leaves
• Small tree branches, trunks, and stumps
• Plant materials, including weeds and brush.
• Mulch