Northeast Florida Spring Lawn and Garden Checklist

Garden gloves with trowel and watering can

Get prepared and ready for a successful season ahead using tips from our Spring lawn and garden checklist.

  • Aeration and Top Dressing renews your lawn soil with the required nutrients. Earth Works lawn care division provides this service. Our garden center likewise has many varieties of high quality soils for your gardening needs.
  • If your pond hasn’t had a clean out in a few years consider doing so or schedule with Earth Works prior to the heat of summer and potential adverse affects of bad bacteria buildup in the detritus.
  • Apply pre-emergent herbicide before average temperatures reach 65-70F. Apply Weed & Feed products after March 1st when nitrogen is bioavailable once warm season sod breaks dormancy.
  • Sharpen and sanitize lawn and garden cutting tools. Dull blades damage plants, including grass and foliage plants inviting pests and pathogens.
  • Check lawn tools to ensure they’re operational. Note: if your lawnmower, edger, and weed eater are gasoline-powered, the fuel should be used up or emptied as it separates and can clog hoses and carburetors, resulting in hard-start issues and equipment failure. Be sure there are no leaks that damage your plants and harm the environment.
  • Prune back Ornamental Grasses like Muhly and Fountain grasses that may have a lot of last year’s brown.
  • Prepare for spring herbs and veggies like cucumbers, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant.       
  • Run through the irrigation system, testing it to ensure its working condition and that it’s covering the lawn and beds adequately. Sprinkler heads could be broken, damaged, or covered with soil preventing them from proper operation. Lines can be broken underground. The Duval County watering restriction allowance increases from once per week to twice starting on the second Sunday in March, according to Chapter 366 of the City of Jacksonville Ordinance Code. If under drought conditions with less than two rain events per week, hand-watering isn’t restricted. Daily new landscape watering is also an allowed exception to the local ordinance.
  • Clean up flower beds that may have a build-up of oak and other leaves that served as Winter mulch that can now be moved to compost piles, trash cans and bags for removal.
  • Divide perennials (Like African Iris, Agapanthus, or Amaryllis). Provide your collection room for growth and share the access with friends.
  • Perform essential maintenance of hardscaping (Pressure wash, stain wood structures, inspect outdoor lighting, etc.).
  • Prune Trees & Shrubs as the threat of Winter frost and freezes subside. 
  • Prepare New Beds (Refresh with Biotone and compost)
  • Plant Container-Grown Plants typically in March past the final threat of frost and freezing temperatures. Plenty of pottery choices are available at Earth Works garden center.
  • Fertilize lawn and gardening beginning in March with slow release and/or liquid fertilizers available at the garden center.
  • If you’ve had tree or shrub wood boring beetles issues consider treating with Fertilome Tree & Shrub Drench, which provides 12 months of protection.
  • Start a Compost Pile (Anytime).
  • Clean Bird Feeders and Baths, along with raking up seed hulls that have accumulated on the ground.
  • When in Doubt, Mulch (Pine Bark is best!).

Stop by the Earth Works garden center if you need more information or assistance implementing any part of our Northeast Florida Spring Lawn and Garden checklist. Get a free quote for lawn service and fertilization and book a landscape design consultation today!

For comprehensive solutions to your specific lawn, garden, and landscaping need, contact Earth Works of Jacksonville online or at 904-996-0712. Earth Works operates a retail Garden Center/Plant Nursery in Jacksonville and provides landscaping, hardscaping, water features, lawn care service, lawn spraying, and drainage solutions. 

Earth Works proudly serves clients in Northeast Florida, including Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach, Nocatee, St. Johns, Fleming Island, Orange Park, Middleburg, Green Cove Springs, Amelia Island, Fernandina, and St. Augustine.

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