While most embrace living in a region fortunate enough to experience the true changes in seasons, there’s no denying Old Man Winter has had some grumpier moments during the early part of this year. That’s not to say that folks are ready to trade in their sweaters for swimsuits just yet, but each passing day on the calendar adds a bit of excitement as eyes begin to shift toward spring. 

After months of fighting the bitter cold, spring’s arrival will bring welcomed warm temperatures perfect for hanging with family on the back deck or gathering with friends at the ballpark. The transition to spring also brings new possibilities for homeowners as they look to refresh their landscape and return their home’s outdoor spaces from dormant to thriving.

Fertilized lawns, freshly laid beds of mulch and the smell of the clippings from that first mowing of the season may not be as far into the future as you may think. It’s important to plan now to be able to maximize outdoor enjoyment when the weather breaks. 

The National Association of Landscape Professionals recommends basic steps such as inspecting your trees and shrubs for damage, fertilizing your lawn and testing your soil every few years for pH balance. The organization further suggests fertilizing trees and shrubs prior to mulching, applying pre-emergent weed control and tidying up all plant beds. As the temperatures climb, an inspection of the irrigation system to ensure its working condition is key. 

House & Home spoke with some area experts in the industry to find out how to best get your landscape beautiful and bountiful this spring, from the types of plants that will add pops of color to the latest trends homeowners are gravitating toward.

Are you noticing any recent trends with regard to landscape design that are gaining in popularity? 

“Everyone and everything is being effected by climate change. Therefore, my focus is to incorporate as many plantings into a design that can handle—and even thrive in—the extreme temperature swings throughout the year, especially in the summer months, and satisfy the aesthetic needs of the client. 

“I’m also keenly aware that the pollinators need the right varieties of food during the growing season. It’s a balancing act that’s essential from my perspective. Townships are also very demanding that any design results in proper storm water management. So, beauty plus environmentally-sensitive practicality seems to be the formula going forward.”

--Ronni Hock, owner and landscape designer, Ronni Hock Garden & Landscape

“Shade structures are currently trending because they provide areas to entertain family and friends anytime of the year. And these structures do not have to break the bank, they are a quick resolve. … Outdoor kitchens and outdoor fireplaces, once a rare request, have also become popular considerations.”

--Diane Marrazzo, outdoor design specialist, Marrazzo’s North River 

What are some of the more important things homeowners need to know to get their landscape ready for the spring season?

“Well, probably the most important thing is fertilizer. It’s huge in the fall and it’s huge in the spring. Homeowners will want to plan a fertilizer schedule … it keeps everything healthier. And the bigger the root systems and the more established your plants, you’ll get heartier, stronger plants with vibrant colors.

“I would also say as the soon as the weather breaks, get out and break up all that dead foliage, so when perennials start popping, they don’t have to grow through layers and layers of dead leaves and debris.”

--George Mihalchick, owner, Ponds by George 

When is the best time to start prepping the landscaping for spring?

“Now is a good time to get outside and assess your landscape. You can remove any winter debris, even prune to shape a wiry shrub or low-lying tree branch, before the landscape wakes up to the warmer weather.

“Toward the end of February or early March, one may begin writing down their ideas, ear-tag project pictures from magazines, or Pinterest, etc. You’ll want to schedule an appointment early depending on your needs as a reputable landscaper can easily book out four-to-six weeks for landscape projects, and for hardscape projects it may be up to two months.”

--Diane Marrazzo

“We love for people to begin as early as possible. What a lot of people do is they’ll wait until it’s nice out and then because they are outside, they’ll start thinking about their landscape because it looks terrible. … Start when the weather is bad because then all the planning, all the back and forth can be done and things are set up for when the weather breaks.”

--George Mihalchick

“If you plan to hire a landscape design firm to create and implement your project for spring, the best time to start is during the late fall of the prior year, or during the winter months. If you wish to do the work yourself—and you’ve done the research and fashioned a design—start with soil preparation in early spring, once the ground has thawed. Use an organic compost to fertilize the soil. This will help to ensure that what you plant thrives.”

--Ronni Hock

What types of plants/shrubs are the best to help homeowners add some color to their landscape?

“Hydrangeas, perennials and flowering ornamental trees all offer a beautiful seasonal display of color and bloom. And remember, our zone can permit winter color too; the reliable Winterberry will never disappoint. [Furthermore], evergreen specimens will not only provide foundational interest, but when used tightly together, they offer texture and balanced color 365 days a year.”

--Diane Marrazzo

“One of the major concerns of any client who wants to install extensive landscaping (and because of the reality of our region) is deer-resistant plant material. The deer population is increasing and these animals have expensive tastes! One important flowering shrub that attracts and pleases hummingbirds in the spring is Weigela. Several varieties have shades of pink or white flowers. Other flowering shrubs include: Spirea, Abelia, Pyrancantha, Aronia and Clethra. In the perennial category, Asclepias is not only deer-resistant and food for butterflies, but is also a native to our region. In addition, Erigeron, Calamintha, Agastache, Saliva and any variety of Eupatorium are a wonderful addition to any landscape and have an extended blooming period.”

--Ronni Hock

Do you encounter homeowners preferring to coordinate their landscape with the overall look of the home itself?

“Yes, you definitely want to go with the vibe of the home. When I walk up a driveway [to meet a client for the first time], I am checking out what’s already there as well as the style and layout of the house. Do they have a formal walkway or is it rustic? Is it curved or straight? What kind of light fixtures do they have, are they formal? I try to pick up on all that stuff as I am walking to the front door and I think about the types of plants that go with the age of the house as well.”

--George Mihalchick

Resources

Marrazzo’s North River
Wycombe, Pa.
(215) 598-1412
MarrazzosNorthRiver.com

Ponds by George
Southampton, Pa.
(215) 396-7500
PondsByGeorge.com

Ronni Hock Garden & Landscape
Lawrenceville, N.J.
(609) 844-0066
RonnisGarden.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 25, Issue 2 (January/February 2025)
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