Spring Cleanup

Property Walkthrough & Damage Assessment

Walk the entire property before touching any equipment. Winter does real damage in northern Minnesota — frost heave cracks sidewalks and lifts pavers, ice dams break gutters and fascia, heavy snow loads snap tree limbs and flatten shrubs. Document everything with photos and notes.

Look for: cracked or heaved concrete and pavers, broken or hanging tree branches, flattened or split shrubs, damaged fencing or gates, displaced edging or bed borders, eroded areas where snowmelt channeled water, and any structural damage to buildings, decks, or retaining walls. Flag items that need repair and communicate them to your supervisor and the customer before starting cleanup work. Do not attempt structural repairs during cleanup — document and move on.

Debris Removal Procedures

This is the core of spring cleanup and it takes real labor. Start with the big stuff and work down to the small stuff.

Garbage and litter: Walk the entire property with trash bags and pick up everything — fast food wrappers, cans, bottles, plastic bags, cigarette butts, dog waste bags, and anything else that blew in or got exposed by snowmelt. Check fence lines, hedge bottoms, and corners where wind deposits litter. For efficiency, use a large dog breed pooper scooper claw to grab litter and drag a rope-tied 5-gallon pail beside you — it keeps you upright and moving fast across the property.

Branches and woody debris: Collect all fallen branches, twigs, and bark. Cut any hanging or broken branches with loppers or a handsaw — do not leave widow-makers in trees. Pile woody debris separately for hauling.

Sand, gravel, and salt residue: Plowing pushes sand, gravel, and road salt onto lawns, beds, and walkways all winter. Rake heavy deposits off turf and beds — leaving a thick layer of sand smothers grass and changes soil chemistry. Sweep or blow sand and salt off all hard surfaces. Clear salt stains from concrete edges where buildup is heaviest.

Matted leaves and thatch: Leaves that did not get picked up in fall mat down under snow into a wet, compacted layer that blocks light and air. Rake or power-rake these layers off the lawn. If the matting is severe, a dethatching pass may be needed. Bag and haul — do not just blow matted leaves into beds.

Dog waste: Walk the yard and pick up all accumulated waste before raking or mowing. This is non-negotiable — running equipment through it creates a health hazard and a smell problem.

Turf Preparation

Once debris is cleared, prepare the lawn surface for the first mow. Rake out dead grass, loose thatch, and any remaining leaf matter to expose the soil surface and let sunlight reach the crown of the grass plants. Focus on areas where snow was piled — turf under snowbanks stays wet and matted the longest.

Re-establish bed edges along all walks, drives, and landscape beds. Winter frost and plow damage push soil and turf over edge lines. Use a stick edger or flat spade to cut clean borders. Pull any weeds that are already sprouting in beds and along edges — they get a head start in cool spring temps while the lawn is still waking up.

Identify bare spots, thin areas, and winter-kill zones. Note these for the customer — they may want seeding or sod work scheduled separately. Do not promise lawn repairs during a cleanup visit unless the service agreement includes it.

Hardscape & Infrastructure Cleanup

Sweep or blow all sand, gravel, salt, and organic debris off sidewalks, driveways, patios, and parking areas. Pay special attention to expansion joints and cracks where sand accumulates — packed joints hold moisture and accelerate freeze-thaw damage next winter.

Clear storm drain grates and catch basins of leaves, gravel, and sediment. Check that downspout discharge areas are draining away from the building — snowmelt and spring rain need somewhere to go. Report any standing water or drainage issues to the customer.

Inspect and straighten any snow stakes, driveway markers, or reflectors that are still in place — pull them if the customer wants them removed for the season. Check mailbox posts, light posts, and sign posts for plow damage and report anything that is leaning or broken.