As commercial and residential landscaping professionals, we have a ton of equipment we need to take proper care of – both large and small. This is a bit of a slow time for us, and we like to take advantage of the extra hours to get some essential chores done in order to get ready for the spring landscaping season. This way we are ready to go the minute it’s time for spring clean up, and you get the very best we have to offer.
Because of the time we can save you from doing the heavy-duty landscaping chores with our lawn care services, you are able to enjoy tending to your flower pots, cultivating vegetable and herb gardens, barbecuing with your family, and enjoying the sun and shade.
But even if you do have us take care of your landscaping through our lawn care services, we know that just about every homeowner has an arsenal of their own tools acquired over the years.
These are some of the spring landscaping chores we’re getting started on to get the growing season off right. Some of these require heading into a store, however, which we don’t advise unless absolutely necessary and until authorities have lessened restrictions on movements.
Prepping Planters
Several of our commercial and residential landscaping clients choose to have us plant their annuals for them, while others enjoy doing it themselves. When the planting season finally starts, it’s great to hit the ground running. Prep your planters with potting soil, which is specifically mixed to provide drainage, airflow, and fertilizer. If you are re-using your potting mix from last year, freshen it up with soil revitalizer and fertilizer.
Lawn Mower Maintenance
Our lawn mowers are perhaps the most important tools in our arsenal. We take pains to ensure they are in the very best of running condition so we can provide you with a pristine cut.
Spring landscaping tasks for lawnmowers include:
- Wear protective equipment such as leather gloves and safety glasses.
- Remove the spark plug first to ensure there is no power.
- Clean foam air filters, replace paper air filters.
- Change dirty oil by removing the drain plug at the bottom of the mower and draining into a container.
- Refill oil with the type and quantity noted in your owner’s manual.
- Dispose of the oil at a local fire station.
- Sharpen the blade at a local hardware store or by a professional sharpener.
- Replace blades with large nicks.
- Clean the mower with a strong spray of water.
- Follow the instructions in your owner’s manual for lubricating moving parts.
- Install a new spark plug when you are finished.
Power Tools Such As Weed Whips, Chain Saws, Blowers, and Hedge Trimmers
Spring landscaping care for your power tools is very similar to that of your lawn mower. Check the condition of your spark plugs, clean and replace air filters if necessary, clear away debris, replace broken parts, and tighten nuts and screws. If your tools are electric, check the cords for damage.
For sharpening, we recommend using a local hardware store or another sharpening service.
Once you have finished these tasks, allow your tool to warm up a bit after starting before putting it straight to use.
Hand Tools
Your hand tools need care and attention, too, in order to make sure they last as long as they should. Spring landscaping care for these essential items includes leaning away dirt and rust with a wire brush and cloth. A little bit of oil can help get rid of the worst of the rust. Pay close attention to your handles, too. Sand down splinters and replace handles that are cracked or broken.
If you are taking your lawn mower blade and power tools in for sharpening, you may want to bring your hand tools, too. Nothing beats a freshly sharpened pair of shears. Sharpening instruments are also available at local hardware stores.
Purchase Your Dirt, Loam, and Mulch
If you need a large amount of dirt, loam, or mulch, we suggest taking advantage of one of the many companies that deliver in the city in order to stay out of the stores as much as possible. Wait until the snow fully melts and you know you will be able to get to work quickly, though, as allowing the bags or containers to sit too long on your grass can cause damage that will take repair work.
Get Your Hoses Ready
It’s not so cold that you can’t start to unravel, set up, and test your hoses, which is a spring landscaping chore nobody looks forward to. It is still too cold to start up your underground irrigation, however.
As a general rule, it’s a good idea to contact a professional before starting up your irrigation. If it was not drained properly, you could run into major problems. Burst pipes are hard to find and require a lot of digging to repair properly.
Southeast Calgary Commercial and Residential Landscaping Services
Our landscape construction services include irrigation service and maintenance, and patio and retaining wall construction, as well as sod and tree installation. We specialize in serving the southeast area of Calgary, including the communities of:
Auburn Bay, Chaparral, Chaparral Valley, Copperfield, Cranston, Douglasdale, Heritage Pointe, Lake Bonavista, Mahogany, McKenzie Lake, Mackenzie Towne, Maple Ridge, New Brighton, Odgen/Lynwood/Millican, Parkland, Riverbend, Sundance, Walden, and Willow Park.
We are very proud of what we do. View our portfolio to see our work, and contact us for a free quote.
