How to Do a Proper Spring Yard Cleanup Yourself

When to start

Wait until the ground is no longer frozen and soil isn't soggy. Walking on frozen or oversaturated soil compacts it, damaging root structures. In Brooks, this is typically mid-to-late April, though Chinook thaws can push it earlier. If your foot sinks more than 3 cm into the lawn, wait another week.

Tools you'll need

• Leaf rake (metal-tined for thatch; bamboo for delicate areas)
• Garden gloves, pruning shears, and loppers
• Wheelbarrow or large yard waste bags
• Stiff push broom and edging tool or flat spade

Step 1: Remove all debris first

Pick up all branches, dead perennial stalks, plastic or debris blown in over winter. Do this before raking, raking over branches tears up the lawn.

Step 2: Dethatch and rake

Rake vigorously with a metal-tined rake to pull out the dead grass mat. Rake in multiple directions, you should be pulling up significant material. Skipping this step blocks sunlight and moisture from reaching the crown of the grass.

Step 3: Prune dead growth

Cut back dead growth on perennials, ornamental grasses, and shrubs to just above new green growth. Rule of thumb: if it scratches green, it's alive. If it snaps cleanly and is dry, it's dead wood.

Step 4: Edge your beds and borders

Use a flat spade or edging tool to cut a clean 5 cm deep line along all garden beds. This one step has an outsized visual effect on how tidy the entire yard looks.

Step 5: Overseed bare spots

After cleanup, overseed bare or thin areas once soil temperature hits 10°C. Scratch the bare soil lightly, apply seed, keep moist for 2–3 weeks. Alberta-adapted varieties like Creeping Red Fescue or Kentucky Bluegrass are the most reliable performers here.

Step 6: First mow

Wait until grass is actively growing and reaches 8–10 cm. First cut at your mower's highest setting. Never remove more than one-third of the blade in a single mowing, especially important in spring when roots are still recovering.