Oregon winters are long and wet. By March, most yards are showing the effects — compacted turf, debris-filled beds, overgrown edges, and muddy low spots. A systematic spring cleanup sets your property up for a strong growing season. Here's the order we recommend.
1. Debris & Leaf Removal
Start by clearing any remaining fall leaves, broken branches, and debris from lawn and beds. Wet leaves left over winter can smother turf and create fungal problems. Get them out before the grass starts actively growing.
Walk your lawn and look for bare patches, mossy areas, compacted spots, and winter damage. Bare patches need overseeding. Heavy moss indicates poor drainage, compaction, or shade — conditions worth addressing, not just treating with moss killer.
2. Assess Your Lawn
3. Edge Beds & Hardscape
Re-define the edges between turf and planting beds. Clean edges make an immediate visual difference and keep grass from creeping into your beds through the season.
- Cut back ornamental grasses to 4-6 inches before new growth emerges
- Remove dead canes from roses and summer-flowering shrubs
- Prune any storm-damaged branches from trees and shrubs
- Wait to prune spring-flowering shrubs (like rhododendrons) until after they bloom
4. Prune & Cut Back
5. Fresh Bark Dust & Mulch
Once beds are cleaned and edged, a fresh layer of bark dust or compost mulch (2–3 inches) retains soil moisture, suppresses weeds, and gives your landscape a polished look heading into spring.
Wait until grass is actively growing (typically late March to mid-April in the Willamette Valley) before the first mow. Mow high — 3 to 3.5 inches — and follow with a slow-release spring fertilizer to fuel the growing season.
6. First Mow & Fertilizer
The Yard Artisan LLC provides spring cleanup services across Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Newberg, Carlton, and all of Yamhill County. We handle the whole list — from debris hauling to fresh bark dust and first mow prep. Call for an estimate.