Springtime Checklist for Outdoors

Now that it’s spring, it’s time to get your home ready for the warm weather and outdoor activities. Some things need to be put away and others need to be taken out! If you’re not sure where to start, here’s a springtime checklist for outdoors.

1. Garden Tools

Now is the time to get these indispensable items out! Hopefully, they were stored properly over the winter and you won’t have too much to do. But giving them a good cleaning and oiling them is a good idea. Then designate a place where you’ll keep them handy but sheltered during the growing season.

2. Gutters

Yes, this is not always a pleasant job. But it’s really important as spring rains come. Dirty gutters trap moisture close to your house, and they can also sprout seeds in them. The resulting roots can do all kinds of damage. And finally, the weight of the dirt can cause the gutters to sag or dislodge from the house. So when you clean them, check to make sure the gutters are attached properly. If someone else is doing the cleaning, ask him or her to note this as well.

3. Paint

If you have outbuildings, decks, or other structures (including your house) that need painting, spring is a good time to get it done. While spring does sometimes bring rain, it also tends to bring mild temperatures. Before the heat and insects of summer and after the ice and freezing temperatures of winter, spring is a good time to get that coat of paint on your structures.

4. Prune Shrubs and Trees

Early spring is the time for pruning, and the earlier the better. It’s less of a shock to the plant you’re trimming if you can do heavy pruning when the shrub or tree is still partly dormant. If you are going to cut bushes, shrubs, and trees back hard for summer, spring is the time to do it.

5. Rake Up Old Leaves and Winter Debris

No matter how much you raked in the fall, there will still be debris on your lawn in spring. Sticks, twigs, and other fall-out can occur all winter. So now that the snow is melted and you can see all that debris, rake it up. This also helps get sunshine to your grass and helps warm up the soil.

6. Wash Windows and Screens

Opening the windows and letting the fresh air in is a wonderful way to celebrate the end of winter. Remember, though, that your screens should be cleaned as well as your windows. Remove the screens from the windows before you clean them. You can use liquid soap and a scrub brush to clean both sides of them; rinse with the garden hose. Then you can clean your windows while the screens air dry.