Landscape Planning: Why March is the Time to Start

Despite the frigid temps and inclement weather, our clocks moving ahead can only mean one thing: it’s time to plan for longer days and warmer weather!

Let’s go over some of our tips and tricks for landscape planning that you can begin today.

Everything Begins with a Vision

Every project – from interior home design to significant construction – requires a vision of the preferred end result. There aren’t many things worse than getting halfway through a project before realizing it’s not turning out as planned, and the same concept applies to planning your landscape!

A great place to start is the creation of a simple checklist that outlines what you currently love about your landscape, and the areas that you would like to see it improve. Perhaps in previous years you always wished for more colorful plants, or maybe you’re thinking that 2017 is the year to try a new style of outdoor lighting. Whether it can be realistically achieved this year or not, it’s a great way to organize your ideas in one location that you can utilize for the warmer months ahead.

If you know there’s room for improvement, but you’re not sure what direction to go in, it might just be time to check out some trends in landscape design!

Before You Can Innovate, You Must Restore and Repair

When you have your perfect vision in mind, it’s tempting to jump right in. But first, it’s important to address any problems that may have arisen due to snow and colder weather.

Here are a few common post-Winter recovery tips:

1. Spot salt buildup: salt buildup from ice and snow can absorb into your soil, as well as damage concrete and stone. If you’re seeing a white discoloration on your pathways, it could be due to the accumulation of salt in Winter. Salt in soil can limit plant growth, so you may want to address salt removal sooner rather than later.
2. Tackle frost damage: frost can severely damage your leaves and flowers, and it can even turn your foilage into some pretty unappealing shades of brown. If that’s the case, pruning can make a big difference in your landscape’s appearance. This will also enable new growth in the warmer months ahead.
3.  Aerate your soil: winter temperatures, snow, and ice, can easily damage the roots in your soil as they lack adequate nutrients. Professionals like RLM provide lawn aeration services, so you don’t have to worry about aerating the soil improperly and creating more damage.

Planning Early Means More Relaxation on the Warmer Days

When we finally have a longer spread of warm days and high temperatures, it will be the perfect time to sit back, relax, and thank yourself for planning ahead.

While it’s easy to save it for another day, your future self will thank you – and so will your landscape!

If you’re ready to begin planning today, check out our guide on Spring Cleanup tips and tricks.  Our team at Ricci’s Landscape Management is also more than happy to answer your questions, provide expert recommendations, or send over a quote for our professional services.

Let’s say goodbye to Winter once and for all: warmer days are right around the corner!