A Guide to Spring Care for Your Trees, Shrubs & Lawn Seasonal Care Introduction: Welcoming Spring with Confidence Your landscape is particularly vulnerable to stressors in spring. This is because insects and diseases become active with the warmth, and plants expend energy on new growth, which leaves them susceptible to outside influence. Spend an hour with your lawn now, and you can save yourself work all summer. Here’s what to do and when to do it. 1. Clear Debris & Inspect for Bugs and Disease Clear away most of the branches and leaves that may have fallen during winter and autumn. This debris gives bugs places to hide and multiply, and its moisture can promote fungal growth, though it’s important to keep some because the natural decomposition is an excellent fertilizer for your soil. Once your property is mostly cleared, inspect bark, branches, and new buds for signs for abnormalities such as wounds, insects, and spots you haven’t seen before. Early spring treatment can help prevent aphids, borers, and other insects. Wise property owners also keep an eye out for tree diseases. Anthracnose, powdery mildew, and fire blight show up on new growth. Manage these diseases with targeted treatments or with cultural methods right after bud break or your plants could suffer from spotting and dieback. 2. Mulch Applying mulch helps retain soil moisture and regulate temperature, but proper technique is key. Use 2–3 inches of mulch around trees and shrubs, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk. Piling mulch against the trunk can create a “mulch volcano,” trapping excess moisture and leading to bark rot. 3. When & What to Prune Though the vast majority of pruning should occur during dormancy, for some trees, you can also prune in early spring. This timing reduces the risk of disease entering through wounds and allows you to see the structure of your tree before leaves obstruct your view. Prune azaleas and lilacs after they bloom to avoid removing flowering buds, and prune fruit trees early so they put energy into fruit, not extra branches. Spring also brings stronger winds. So if you notice weak or overlapping branches on your trees, consider supportive pruning to reduce the risk of damage during seasonal storms. If you want to make sure your trees are pruned with care, call an ISA Certified Arborist for help. 4. Caring for Your Lawn Lawn care varies depending on your grass type and region. Here’s how to approach spring based on what’s growing underfoot: Cool-season grasses (common in the Northeast, Midwest, and Pacific Northwest) benefit from light fertilization after winter, along with overseeding in thin areas. Applying pre-emergent weed treatments before the soil warms can help prevent crabgrass. When you mow, keep blades sharp and maintain a height of 3-4 inches to encourage strong roots. Warm-season grasses (like Bermuda and Zoysia) should be fertilized only after they’ve fully greened up. Spring is also a good time to dethatch if needed and apply a pre-emergent treatment for summer weeds. If you live in a transition zone, consider a soil test to tailor your approach. Understanding your grass type helps you choose the right fertilizer, weed treatment, and disease prevention, so your lawn stays resilient all season. 5. Fertilize & Water Your Trees & Shrubs After winter, trees and shrubs can benefit from gentle nutrition. A slow-release fertilizer like SavAtree’s ArborHealth® helps replenish nutrients, leading to healthier foliage and stronger resistance to insects and diseases. If you have trees that are newly planted, drought-stressed, or growing in poor soil, bio-stimulants like SavATree ArborKelp® can encourage root growth and improve stress tolerance. Pairing these with organic soil enhancers supports the vibrant microbial life below the surface, helping your entire landscape thrive. Watering is just as important as fertilizing in spring, especially as trees wake up from winter dormancy. Established trees generally need about 1 inch of water per week from rain or irrigation once the weather warms. Newly planted trees need more frequent attention (aim for watering every 2-3x a week during the first few months). Focus on slow, deep watering rather than frequent shallow sprinkles. A long soak encourages roots to grow downward, building drought tolerance for the rest of the season. If you use an irrigation system, spring is the time to check for leaks, misaligned heads, and incorrect schedules, since early-season overwatering is one of the biggest causes of root rot in landscapes. 6. Keep Weeds Out of Your Beds Apply a pre-emergent treatment to your beds in early spring. The right product will form a barrier at the soil surface that will prevent weed seeds from germinating, stopping problems like dandelions and bindweed before they start.Lightly rake or loosen the top layer of mulch before applying so the product can create an even, effective barrier. Once applied, avoid disturbing the soil, since breaking the barrier allows weeds to slip through. If you had heavy weed pressure last year, a second application later in spring can help maintain control through summer. 7. Specialized Spring Services Depending on your property’s needs, you might consider: Grub treatments if you notice spongy turf or increased animal activity. Red thread disease management for lawns in cool, wet regions. Bark disease prevention for trees susceptible to cankers or fire blight. Borer protection for at-risk species such as ash, birch, and chestnut. Consider these treatments only after confirming a specific problem exists or if you have a high-risk tree (e.g., an ash tree in an area with Emerald Ash Borer). But act quickly if you find a problem that needs addressing. Get Ahead of Problems Whether you’re assessing winter damage, preparing your landscape, or protecting against insects, taking action in spring lays the foundation for a healthy, beautiful property all summer. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with an expert arborist.