I can't lie, I love the spring. The birds are singing, the flowers are blooming, and the cold, gray days of winter are soon to be a distant memory. It's a time for possibilities! Like you might plant an organic garden, or refinish the deck, maybe even landscape that boring old yard and update your curb appeal! Investing in possibilities like these are going to make your house the envy of the neighborhood. Here are 6 things you must do to get your outdoors ready for spring and make your neighbors green with envy.
1. Give Your House a Bath: Pressure washing is key to blasting away the muck of winter and giving your house a fresh clean look. Driveways, sidewalks, patios, fences and decks will look good as new with a quick pass of the wand. Don't own your own pressure washer?
Rent one.
2. Plan Those Gardens: I've always been a "fly by the seat of my pants" type of girl, but when it comes to vegetable gardening and landscape planting, a plan is key. I like to do a rough sketch before heading out to the
gardening center. That way I know what type and scale of plant I'm looking for and I don't overbuy.
- When to Plant: Usually I start seeding my vegetables in late March, early April. I recommend checking out the Farmers Almanac for best times to plant seeds and transplant plants. Believe it or not, the most favorable times to plant depend on your area's frost dates as well as the phases of the moon.
- Know Your Soil Type: You can buy an at-home soil sample test kit, or take a soil sample to your local university to find out what your soil needs to make your garden grow. For example, my dad taught me that a high nitrogen count in your soil will give you big bushy-leaf tomato plants without a lot of tomatoes. What good is that?! Knowing your soil's nitrogen count tells you whether or not you need to add something to it to counteract the nitrogen, in turn helping you produce a higher yield of tomatoes!
- Give It a Boost: Adding compost and/or compost tea to the soil will make your garden flourish!
3. Pamper Your Patio: You don't need to spend a fortune at
the store to freshen up those patios. Pay attention to the little things: twinkle lights, colorful planters, and plants, hurricane lanterns and bright pillows can make a big difference on a small budget.
4. New Lawns: If you plan on seeding a new lawn,
go to a home center near you for supplies and do it before or after summer -- not during. Because the seeds have to be kept moist and that is almost impossible in summer.
5. Tune Up Your HVAC: During the year, your air conditioning system accumulates dust and dirt, making it less efficient and costing you additional money in utility bills. Make sure your HVAC units are ready for summer by
getting a tune up.
6. Clean Out Gutters: Gutters are in important part of your roofing system, making them a must-do on our list. Leaves and gunk can accumulate over the fall and winter months, causing a clog in your water-repelling system. I recommend
cleaning your gutters out twice a year to keep everything in tip-top shape.
See below where to go to get what you need.