Spring Landscaping Prep for Southern California
Spring moves fast in Southern California. Warm days arrive early, plants wake up, and the window to set your yard up for a strong year is short. A little prep in late winter and early spring pays off all season. Here is your Inland Empire spring checklist.
Clean up winter's mess
- Clear debris and weeds: pull cool-season weeds before they flower and seed.
- Prune for the season: finish dormant pruning of roses and deciduous trees before new growth pushes.
- Refresh mulch: top beds back up to a 3-inch layer to lock in soil moisture before the heat.
Wake up your soil and lawn
Apply a spring fertilizer once your warm-season lawn greens up, and put down a pre-emergent in February to stop crabgrass before it starts. If your clay soil is compacted, early spring is a good time to aerate so water and nutrients reach the roots.
Check your irrigation before summer
Turn on each zone and walk the yard. Look for broken heads, clogged emitters, misting, and overspray onto sidewalks. Fixing these now prevents dead spots and wasted water when temperatures climb. Reset your controller for longer days, or let a smart controller handle it. Our irrigation specialists can tune the whole system.
Plant while it's mild
Spring is a great time to add color and warm-season vegetables. Plant before the real heat arrives so roots establish first. Group plants by water needs and choose drought-tolerant varieties to keep summer watering manageable.
Frequently asked questions
When should I apply pre-emergent in spring?
In Southern California, late winter (around February) is ideal — before soil warms and crabgrass germinates.
Is spring a good time to plant in SoCal?
Yes for warm-season vegetables and color, though fall is even better for trees and shrubs. Plant early so roots establish before summer.
Arbol Roble has cared for Inland Empire landscapes since 1997, serving Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Fontana, Eastvale, Corona and Riverside. Request a free quote or browse our residential and commercial services.
About the Author
The Arbol Roble team are licensed landscaping and irrigation professionals (CSLB License #1077455) serving Rancho Cucamonga, Ontario, Fontana, Eastvale, Corona, Riverside, and the greater Inland Empire.