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Do cold winter days have you dreaming of warmer weather and spending time sprucing up your backyard? There’s no time like the present to start planning your spring backyarding projects.
Here are the TurfMutt Foundation’s tips to get a jump on planning:
Map out a plan for improving your outdoor living room.
The family yard is an extension of your home, providing a place to gather with friends and family and for kids and pets to play. More than three quarters of Americans who have a yard (76%) say the family yard space is one of the most important parts of their home, according to a survey commissioned by the TurfMutt Foundation and conducted online by The Harris Poll.
Ask yourself: What would enhance this space for your family? An outdoor kitchen, firepit, pergola, and patio are bigger ticket items that you should start planning for now. Enhanced landscaping is another alternative.
Determine which plants are best for your climate.
Selecting the right plants, trees and shrubs for your climate zone is important for keeping maintenance to a minimum and maximizing benefits to the environment and ecosystem. Check out the USDA’s plant hardiness zone map to determine which plants are most suitable for your area now to make shopping at your local nursery more productive this spring.
Take stock of your lawn and landscape tools.
Does your outdoor power equipment need to be serviced before the spring season? Or maybe you were living in an apartment and now need to purchase a lawnmower, edger or leaf blower for your home. Now’s a good time to take care of these tasks so you will be ready to roll come spring.
Decide now if you need professional assistance.
You might be able to take on your backyarding improvement projects on your own. But if you think you might need professional assistance, line up professionals and obtain bids. This will put you a step ahead of the spring rush!
To learn more about the many benefits of green space for our health and well-being, download the TurfMutt Foundation’s International Backyarding Fact Book. For more on the TurfMutt Foundation, visit TurfMutt.com or sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly e-newsletter with backyarding tips and all the news from the TurfMutt Foundation here. Look for Mulligan the TurfMutt on the CBS Lucky Dog television show on Saturday mornings.
Mutt Mulligan’s monthly e-newsletter is loaded with tips on outdoor living, enjoying green spaces and resources for teachers and families, as well as news from the TurfMutt Foundation.