We all want our yards to inspire fun and relaxation for ourselves and guests. With the arrival of the warmer weather, lawn care and gardening are top of mind. Read on to find five helpful tips to help you get your yard summer ready.

1. Clean up the winter wreckage: Pick up all sticks and debris that blew into your yard during the winter. Pay extra attention to clumps of leaves that can smother the new growth on your favourite flowers and shrubs. Cut out some of the hard labour with powerful, energy-efficient lawn products like Black & Decker's electric leaf blower, a lightweight alternative to using a gas powered unit.

2. Rake your lawn: It is important to rake away thatch (excess grass clippings that build-up above the soil) in order to make room for new growth. You may want to invest in a de-thatching rake or use a stiff-tined rake for best results.

3. Feed and seed your lawn: Use compost or organic fertilizer mixed with grass seeds to provide your lawn with a solid foundation for healthy growth. Use a red fescue blend as it requires less water to perform well in sunny or in shaded locations.

4. Mower maintenance: Make sure your mower is ready for action. Consider investing in a corded or cordless electric mower, reduced noise pollution, zero smog emissions, less than half the operating cost of gas powered mowers, no maintenance and easy storage makes energy-efficient mowers a no-brainer for yard care. My favourite choice is the Black & Decker 36 Volt 18" Rechargeable Mower with Rear Bag.

5. Think before you snip: Don't be too quick to prune, some flowering shrubs flower on last year's growth, not new growth. Pruning them in the spring means no flowers later. Make sure you study your shrubs' growth habits before pruning them. A quick and effective test is to scratch the bark with your thumbnail, green means its live wood and is best pruned in the fall

By following these simple steps and using the proper tools, getting ready for summer has never been easier, you may not even consider it a chore.

Carson Arthur is best known as HGTV's landscaping host from Green Force and Global's Room to Grow. He focuses on creating harmony between urban needs and ecological choices.