Although we’re still a couple weeks away from the official first day of summer, it’s already summer in your backyard. Wondering what landscaping maintenance to-dos you should be focusing on this time of year in Knoxville, Tenn.?

Here’s a list to help you get started:

1. Deadhead

Deadhead any spring-blooming perennials by pruning or pinching off spent blooms.

2. Prune

Prune any spring-blooming shrubs but only after the new growth has hardened or established. If the new growth is more or less the same color as the older growth, it has already “hardened.”

3. Fertilize

Fertilize your lawn (hopefully for the second time this season) with a weed and feed fertilizer. In the spring, most will fertilize with a high-nitrogen fertilizer.

4.Check Irrigation

Check irrigation for areas of overspray and under spray and adjust accordingly to maximize your water usage. You’ll also want to be sure to account for the longer hotter days by adjusting the timer so that you’re watering earlier and for longer periods of time.

5.Clean, paint or stain

Clean, paint or stain wooden structures such as decks, pergolas and fences. The hot days will help speed drying times and the extra daylight will give you plenty of time to tackle the project.

6. Plan

Plan for fall projects now so you’ll be ready for football season and cooler weather. Landscape contractors fill up their schedules pretty quickly this time of year so make sure they have your next outdoor living space (hopefully with a TV so you can watch the big game!), fire pits and fireplaces on their schedule. The cooler weather is also perfect for planting trees and shrub or installing new sod.

If you need help with any of your summer projects or fall planning, contact us at 865-756-5550 or by filling out our contact form.