Jess Zavaglia, one part of the husband-wife team behind Zavaglia Associates, shares her tips for preparing to have the lushest landscape you can this season and beyond.
“As spring approaches, take time to reflect on what you would like to accomplish during the season and start with a plan,” says Zavaglia.
“Regardless of whether you want to start with some new plantings or maintain what has already been established in your garden, start with the basics and amend your soil — aerate and add nutrients such as organic fertilizer and compost as needed.”
She adds that prep work can and should start in the colder months to set your landscape up for success.
“Spend the colder months considering your landscape design, which you can start any time, depending on the project schedule,” says Zavaglia. “Keep in mind that planting windows are spring and fall for our zone, so all design should be completed, quoted, and on an installation schedule by no later than the end of March to guarantee a spot on the calendar.”
Prep Timeline:
- Late March: Maintenance starts in late March with a thorough spring cleanup or when the snow is pretty much behind us.
- April: Provide nutrients to all plants (organic fertilizer and compost) and add mulch to your flower beds. “Avoid over mulching, and never place mulch around [the] root base of trees, shrubs, or perennials, as they need room to breathe and access nutrients,” says Zavaglia. “Our favorite mulch is Sweet Peet.”
- May: Tie back daffodil bulbs and cut back tulips as necessary after they have flowered. Go ahead and cut back any herbaceous perennials as needed.
For your flower beds, Zavaglia recommends cultivating them, taking a soil test, and amending as needed, and stay on top of weeding and mulching.
For your yard, she suggests giving it a good spring fertilizer, spot seeding any distressed areas as needed, controlling crabgrass, and turning on your irrigation system.
She adds that it is never too early to start prep work. “The more time you give yourself, the more time you have to make thoughtful decisions based on your project goals and your priorities — important considerations that need to be reflected in your overall budget for your outdoor spaces.”
Dos and Don’ts for Spring Landscaping
Do a thorough clean up. Remove all debris that has fallen and accumulated over the winter months.
Do hire a maintenance company that specializes and understands the growth trends of the area and zone you live in. Love a particular neighbor’s garden? Ask for a referral.
Do get on a proper maintenance schedule.
Do take initiative early if you plan on adding plantings in this spring. Aim to have all spring landscape designs completed, estimated, and scheduled for installation by the first week of April. If you wait, you may be dealing with delays due to plant availability and the unpredictable weather, and it may be hard to find a contractor with openings in their schedule to accommodate you.
Don’t wait until the first day of spring to call your landscape design or installation professional. Spring unfolds quickly, and you will miss windows of opportunity to establish your garden beds so they will thrive.
Go-To Spring Plants
Add these picture-perfect plants to Westchester gardens for spring.
Lilacs
Smell wonderful and can be cut to bring indoors.
Hellebore
Evergreen through winter and then give early-spring blooms.
Aliums
Gorgeous structural orbs that provide a garden with interest and height.
Peony
Though short-lived, they are so beautiful and can be brought indoors.
Salvia
Early green, then bloom all summer long — honeybees love them!
Astilbe
A.k.a. “false goat’s bear,” these perennials grow well in shady areas.
Azaleas
Come in a variety of shades and are relatively low maintenance.
Related: 5 Garden Centers and Plant Shops to Visit in Westchester
