The winter months leave most people running indoors to escape the cold but once the weather starts to change, getting outside is much easier. While it’s easy to tell when it’s time to get outside and start enjoying your favorite activities again, knowing when it’s time to start paying attention to your landscaping isn’t as simple as you might think. So, can you start thinking about your plants when there’s still snow on the ground? Yes, but you need to know what signs to watch for. Here’s how to tell it’s time to start paying attention to your lawn according to your Denver sprinkler repair experts.

The Trees Are Leafing Out
One of the easiest ways to tell if it’s time to start paying attention to your lawn and landscaping is to look at the plants growing in your yard. When the weather starts to improve, you’ll start to see signs of early life on the plants. This might look like small leaves growing on the branches or buds starting to form on flowering plants. Use this as a guide. If the trees and shrubs in your yard think it’s time to start growing, it’s time to turn your attention to your lawn. The closer you can follow the seasons and start tending your grass when the other plants are starting to bloom, the easier it will be for you to have a lush, green lawn as early as possible. 

Your Neighbors Are Starting to Garden
If you’re not comfortable trying to gauge timing by looking at the rest of your plants, use your neighbors as a guide. The chances are good that at least one of them will be more experienced in plant care and gardening than you are. If you notice several of your neighbors starting to get their hands dirty in their garden beds or making preparations for early planting, start turning your attention to your landscaping. Remember, the earlier you can start in the growing season, the more established your yard will be during the warmer months. This will make it easier for your plants to avoid shock if rain is scarce or the Denver metro area suffers from a severe heatwave for days on end. 

The Nightly Lows Are Above Freezing
Daytime temperatures tend to be significantly higher than the lows at night. Just because you’re getting warm weather during the day doesn’t mean you can start planting your garden or turn your sprinklers on to irrigate your lawn. You need to pay attention to the nightly lows. If they’re staying at or above freezing (32 degrees Fahrenheit) and aren’t showing signs of dipping below freezing for the near future, you should be okay starting to water your lawn. If the temps are still getting cold during the nighttime hours, you’ll want to hold off. The last thing you want to do is add water to your sprinkler system’s lines only to have the system freeze up because the weather got too cold.

You’re Feeling Antsy About Your Landscaping
If you’re feeling concerned about your landscaping and feel like you’re ready to get a jumpstart on the process, go ahead and let your emotions dictate your actions. Remember, you can always start making improvements to your landscaping without planting new elements or working in the yard. Start new seedlings inside in a sunny room where you can control the temperature. Sketch out ideas for your spring garden layout and start acquiring the tools you need to bring your vision to life early. You can even schedule a sprinkler system inspection early on in the season so you’re ready to go once the weather improves. This way, you’ll beat the rush and be able to choose an appointment time that works with your schedule more easily. 

Wildlife Is More Abundant
Even in the city, wildlife can be abundant especially if you have a yard with tons of plants and growth. Rabbits, squirrels, and other critters can help you decide if it’s time to start working on your landscaping. If they feel that the weather is warm enough to be outside and away from their shelters for hours each day, you can likely start working on your garden. Remember, wildlife always operates with self-preservation in mind. If the weather is too cold, you won’t see plentiful wildlife at all. 

You Have Tons of Ideas and Inspiration
The colder months are a time to reflect on your goals for your garden and landscaping. If you find that the ideas are rolling in and you’re feeling more inspired than you have in a long time, don’t let that motivation slide. Start finding ways to get your landscaping ready for all of those ideas. This might mean building a new garden bed for your flowers once the weather improves. Or it could mean taking care of hardscaping maintenance that will impact the overall look of your yard. Whatever it is, it’s okay to get started as long as you’re keeping your plants safe and healthy.

It’s Staying Warm During the Day
Though most people are concerned about nighttime temperatures, you can also gauge your timing with the weather during the day. If the temperatures are staying warm all day long, it’s a surefire sign that spring is on the way. This is the perfect time to start paying attention to your landscaping and your lawn. You don’t even have to start watering it to make a difference. All you need to do is keep an eye out for weeds and figure out the ideal fertilizing schedule for your grass. Once the weather heats up in earnest and night temps stop going below freezing, you’ll be ready to start fertilizing and watering like normal. The sooner you can start this, the easier it will be to repair any wintertime damage to your grass. 

Get Your Sprinkler Inspection Scheduled
Spring will be here before you know it. Rather than leaving things up to chance and risking expensive water leaks during the spring, make a plan to get your sprinkler system inspected. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.