RLM’s EARLY SPRING LANDSCAPING TIPS

The Winter weather months can make us feel like hibernating indoors, but it’s important to remember that Spring is just around the corner. The transition from winter to spring can often feel overwhelming, especially when it comes to landscaping. However, taking a few proactive steps can ease this change and prepare your yard for the warmer months ahead.

1. PREPARE FOR THE UPCOMING SEASON

Winter is an ideal time to begin planning for the upcoming season. At Ricci’s Landscape Management, we will be sending out our 2025 Service Contracts via email in January. Take time to review your personalized contracts and respond promptly to reserve a spot on the RLM, Inc. routes. Hiring a professional landscape gives you peace of mind. No last minute scramble to find a reliable and trustworthy service to show up. As soon as that warm weather hits, you will already know that RLM, Inc. is prepared to manage your outdoor space so you can make the best use of your free time.

Be sure to take advantage of saving with Prepay discounts! Who doesn’t love a good deal? Reach out to RLM today to discuss your 2025 Fertilization and Irrigation Contracts and unlock their prepay discounts. By opting for prepayment, you not only enjoy a discount but also secure your services in advance, ensuring everything is taken care of ahead of time.

If you’re you have been considering sprucing up your landscape, adding some plants, tackling a drainage problem, adding a water feature, or a whole overhaul, now is absolutely the time to reach out to RLM to have a conversation with one of our landscape designers. Our skilled team will collaborate with you to evaluate the project and develop a design that perfectly suits your needs. Planning in advance will reserve your place on our schedule as soon as the weather allows for you project to begin.

2. SPRING CLEANUP & MULCH

Winters in Northwest Indiana take a toll on your landscape, and as spring arrives, there’s work to be done. Beginning with a thorough Spring Cleanup, the experienced RLM, Inc. crews will clear away any clutter in your yard. Leaves, branches, and other unwanted debris that has accumulated over the winter months.

Perennials and certain deciduous shrubs will be cut down in the early spring. This includes deadheading, cutting back of grasses, and removing any leftover Fall/Winter annuals. Following horticulture standards, a plant fertilizer will be applied to provide those plants with the nutrient boost they need to readily absorb nutrients for optimal health throughout the season.

Landscape beds are then prepped for re-mulching with the beds re-edged or widened if need be. Any remaining debris will be cleared, and a weed preventative applied throughout the beds before an even 1” layer of mulch is applied and raked evenly throughout the beds. If excess mulch has built up over the course of a few years, extra time may need to be spent removing some of the excess mulch. Removing excess mulch provides a better environment for plants allowing them the ability to absorb nutrients and making them less susceptible to pests and disease.

3. SPRING FERTILIZATION – DON’T PROCRASTINATE! PRE-EMERGENTS ARE VITAL!

As your grass comes out of dormancy and begins its vigorous growth phase, it is vital to replenish the nutrients and establish a strong root structure. Working in a partnership with the licensed technicians at RLM, Inc. will help you follow guidelines such as changing mow patterns and proper watering amounts will help protect your turf from disease.

Pre-Emergent is step one in our carefully curated lawn health program. The first application is usually applied in March. Carefully timed with the rising soil temperatures, our two pre-emergent applications will help established weeds from spreading and by preventing seed germination. Pre-emergent herbicides form a protective barrier in the top layer of your soil preventing seeds from developing roots.

A healthy lawn begins with healthy soil that retains enough water for plants while allowing for drainage. Our program boosts essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, and micronutrients to maintain a balanced pH. Our technicians will monitor the property throughout the season and contact you if they notice anything out of the ordinary. Likewise, if our clients notice anything, the sooner we know, the faster we can provide a solution.

4. LAWN MOWING

Another aspect of spring lawn maintenance is mowing. A common mistake homeowners make is cutting their grass too short. While cutting your grass short allows you to have a longer wait time between mowing sessions, your grass height is most certainly impacting the overall health of your lawn. Grass that is too short becomes a perfect breeding ground for weeds.

The best advice we can give to those who cut their own lawn is to avoid cutting your grass shorter than 3 ½  inches. Never remove more than a third of the grass blades at a time. This may mean you have to make several passes through the yard.

When mowing, always make sure to use sharp blades. Mowing with dull blades can make your lawn vulnerable to disease and leave the top of your grass looking brown. Also, remember to switch up your mowing pattern. Using the same mowing pattern conditions your lawn to grow or lean a certain way, which can create a dull appearance where your grass looks worn down. Switch up your pattern and keep your grass looking full and tall.

5. SPRING ANNUALS & PLANTINGS

Spring is the best time to think about what you want to plant in your landscape. Whether annuals or perennials, RLM can help you pick the right fit for your yard. Our skilled team is dedicated to creating a plant design tailored specifically to enhance your unique landscape. We understand that every outdoor space has its own character and needs, so we take the time to collaborate with you to ensure the design not only complements your vision but will have long lasting results in your landscape for years to come.

At RLM, we begin our planting activities just as Mother’s Day approaches, due to the risk of frost during springtime. Make sure you are finalizing those designs ahead of time, so RLM can place plant orders promptly to ensure you are prioritized on our schedule.

6. IRRIGATION SYSTEM STARTUPS & ANNUAL BACKFLOW TESTING

Spring is the perfect time to get your Irrigation system started up and have your Annual Backflow Test completed. Our state certified and professionally trained technicians will start up your system, check and adjust sprinkler heads, set the controller, and perform any repairs needed to get your system up and running. This is a great time to speak with our technicians about any upgrades to your system and have them provide you with an estimate.

It is also the perfect opportunity to talk to your technician about the importance of knowing how to adjust your controller as spring rains roll in and as the temperature begins to rise. Considering a smart controller? You won’t regret it. Over 25% of the irrigation systems we service operate on a smart controller which saves on all the guesswork when it comes to watering. Automatically connecting to a tower nearby, a smart controller will adjust how much water your lawn needs based off the weather, saving you on your water bill.

At the same visit as the startup, our IDEM Certified Backflow technician will test your Backflow and submit the necessary paperwork with your water provider. Water should only flow in your home in one direction to maintain the cleanliness of your drinking water. Sometimes, however, your water flow may suddenly change due to a variety of circumstances, causing dirty water to flow back into your clean water. Many states, such as Indiana, require homeowners to have their backflow preventers tested annually. Just like how individual parts of your car may wear down over time, the same is true for your backflow testing preventer. Regularly testing your backflow preventer will ensure that all parts are in working order and your home and drinking water remain safe.

CONTACT RLM TODAY

Request a quote from RLM to discover how our exceptional landscaping installation and maintenance services can transform and maintain your outdoor space. Let us help you bring your vision to life with our expertise and passion for landscaping.