After a rough week of thunderstorms and even a tornado or two, North Texas is heating up… and quickly.  Our thoughts and prayers go out to those effected by the storms in Granbury a couple of weeks ago. The summer is upon us, the dry months of blazing temperatures, summer baseball and vacation draw more near. All the more reason to enjoy your beautifully landscaped backyard and a cool dip into a  shiny new-to-you remodeled and replaster pool with a drink and some grilled burgers on your plate.

Check out Part 1 of Spring Cleaning Your Backyard for a quick rundown on dealing with pesky weeds that can make the most beautiful yard look overrun and unmaintained. Here we’ll move forward with prepping your lawn for the summer months of growth.

Thin Out Your Plants

Beautiful floral plants such as the Forsythia always come early and right in time for spring. Their fluorescent yellow flowers are beautiful to look at, but can also spread rapidly and quickly grow out of control. When trimming plans such as the Forsythia, start from the outside working your way in and make sure to grab those pesky branches that can grow and root several feet from the original plant.

Thinning and pruning your plant can actually rejuvenate it, ensuring that it will be healthy and beautiful for years to come.

Remove Seedlings

Normally these weedy tree seedlings aren’t too difficult to remove – simply uproot them by pulling the plant straight from the soil; however, more established seedlings can present a more difficult problem. Grab a shovel and dig as much as you can out from the ground. Then treat the area with a mixture of vinegar and salt that will prevent the seedling from sprouting.

Simple and small steps will help create your destination backyard – so take them now, and reap the benefits for the rest of the summer.