As the thermometer continues to creep upward, gardeners and homeowners are starting to think about getting ready for spring. Everyone is dreaming about being in their yard, gardens, and flowerbeds and enjoying the warmer weather.

Getting your yard ready for spring will help plants flourish for the rest of the season.

5 steps to get your yard ready for spring

These early spring months are the perfect time to do a little prep work. Taking care of a few simple chores now will make the rest of the growing seasons easier and more enjoyable. Here are five easy steps you can take now to get your yard ready for spring.

1. Tidy up

Throughout the fall and winter, all sorts of things can end up in your yard. Start with a fresh slate by tidying up your yard early in the spring. Branches, leaves, and other debris that have been left behind by storms should be cleaned up. It’s important to take care of these chores quickly before spring plants start popping up. The sooner your flower beds are cleaned, the less chance there is that you’ll step on a plant by mistake.

Trees and bushes can also be spruced up in the spring. Trim off any dead or broken branches and prune and shape your trees and bushes as needed.

2. Prep garden tools

Your garden tools have been sitting around all winter, but soon they are going to start earning their keep again. Make sure they are in shape and ready to go by cleaning them off with soap and water and use mineral spirits on the wood handles. Mineral spirits help prevent the wood from splintering.

3. Give your soil some love

To get your soil ready for the growing season ahead, turn over any soil that you’ll be planting in with a pitchfork and then rake it out. Clear out any weeds that have grown and add fresh compost or manure to the soil. Add any fertilizer to the soil a few weeks before planting to avoid burning the roots of your new plants.

4. Make a plan

Know your plant hardiness zone and select plants that are best for your location. Local nurseries are also a great place to get recommendations for your area. Other factors to keep in mind is soil drainage when plants will bloom and plant height.

5. Keep up the maintenance

A little upkeep throughout the season is the key to keeping your yard and flowers looking beautiful. Once flowers start blooming, deadheading will promote more flower growth (depending on the flower type). Annuals can be planted to supplement perennials and keep flower beds looking full.

Late spring is also a good time to mulch your garden. Mulching will keep weeds at bay and help the soil retain moisture for the hot summer days to come.