Spring always gets people thinking about renewal, because nothing feels better after a long winter than getting outside again into the fresh air and feeling the warm breeze on your skin. This leads many people to think about spring cleaning tasks, and when it comes to your spring lawn garden maintenance, there can be a lot to do to get your home ready for summer. When preparing a spring cleaning to-do list, there are plenty of things to consider, and many professional home maintenance programs will include things like:

• Taking care of your lawn and gardens
• Doing maintenance on decks, patios, fences, and other outdoor structures
• Cleaning outdoor furniture
• Looking after rain barrels, water systems, and sprinklers

Lawn and Garden Maintenance

Just because you raked in the fall to prepare your lawn and garden for winter doesn’t mean there won’t be new debris to clean come spring. Once the snow is gone, make sure you get out there with a rake and pick up leaves, twigs, branches, and other organic matter that the winter winds blew onto your lawn. You might need to prune bushes and hedges, but if there are damaged limbs on any large trees, you may want to call a professional who has the tools and knowledge to safely manage tree-trimming.

Inspect and Clean Outdoor Structures

Decks, patios, fences, and other outdoor structures are victim to the elements year after year and are prone to more wear and tear than indoor structures. For plastic, stone, or concrete patios or structures, clean off debris and moss with a pressure washer or garden hose with a strong spray nozzle attachment.

For wooden structures, you should start by sweeping the surface to remove debris, and be sure to clean out the spaces between the boards. As you clean, inspect the boards for warping and splintering, and make sure nothing’s been knocked loose over the winter.

Boards that are severely warped or broken will need to be replaced, but loose boards can simply be tightened. If you find boards that have splintered, peel off the splinters and sand the board. Depending on when you last refinished your deck, fence, or gazebo, consider staining and resealing it if it’s looking faded or worn.

Deck and patio maintenance can be tricky and time-consuming, especially if yours needs a lot of work, so if you don’t feel like tackling this DIY project, you can always call in the pros.

Prepare Outdoor Furniture for the Season

Plastic and glass outdoor furniture can be hosed down or washed with soapy water, but if your outdoor patio set has metal on it, you should inspect it for rust and erosion. If you find anything like this, get some spray enamel from your local hardware store to protect the furniture from future damage. If you’ve got an outdoor fire pit, clean it out and look for rust and holes. Patio cushion covers should be washed if possible, or at least vacuumed and spot cleaned.

Getting Your Watering System Ready

Most people turn off their outdoor water supply for the winter months, so the first thing you’ll have to do is get that turned back on. Once the water is running, check to make sure that your hoses aren’t leaking, that sprinkler and sprinkler systems are functioning, and that rain barrels are cleaned out and positioned properly.

DIY cleaning and exterior lawn and garden maintenance always seem like a great idea during the first few nice days of spring, but there is a lot of work that goes into properly maintaining your lawn, garden, and outdoor spaces. If you find you don’t have the time to properly maintain your exterior, call Hassle Free Home Services today to find out how short your chore list can become!