Spring: Time For House Work

Spring has finally arrived and the evidence of a cold, dark winter is still lingering inside, outside and around your home.

With warmer temperatures and plenty of sunshine, spring is the ideal time to replenish that picturesque appearance to your biggest investment, your home. Plus, refreshing weather and saving a few bucks in your wallet are two great side-effects.

• Give your lawn much-needed attention. After the snow melts and the cold winter has passed, the dreary sight of a lawn sprawled with dormant grass can be quite a shock. Reviving the luscious green landscape is not hard; spend some time spreading fertilizer and planting new grass in bare spots.
• Start a garden. Now that crisp spring air, plenty of sunshine and occasional rain showers are common, there isn`t a better time to start a garden. Whether you are planting a flowerbed or growing edibles, gardening can be hard but rewarding work. Once you find the optimal spot to start the garden, be sure to regularly water, fertilize and tend to the plants as needed. Cleaning the surrounding area of weeds and dead plants and adding fresh mulch are also ways to guarantee a clean, aesthetic garden. Check with your local agricultural extension or home improvement or garden centers for information about the date of last freeze and plants and vegetables that thrive in your climate and soil.
• Maintain equipment, tools and lawn furniture. Chances are, lawn mowers, gardening tools, weed-whackers, grills and even lawn furniture have been piled up in storage over the freezing winter months. Inspecting, cleaning and repairing equipment before use are good ways to prevent injury and keep equipment running efficiently. Be sure to check inside gardening gloves for any critters that may have snuck in to escape the cold!
• Inspect and repair your home`s exterior. Take a lap around the outside of your house and check to see if anything needs to be repaired or replaced after this year`s harsh winter. Unclogging any gutters of obstructions, repairing cracks in the sidewalk or driveway, replacing lost roof shingles and inspecting outdoor water faucets for freeze damage are good preventative measures to take to avoid future expense and headache. Staining the deck and repainting the house are also good ways to spruce up your home while enjoying the spring weather.
• Keep the inside of your home fresh and clean. Although most of the time will be spent outdoors enjoying the freshness of spring, indoor maintenance is important for those days that you are cooped up inside. Checking your air conditioning to be sure it is running properly can save you a lot of sweat as temperatures warm up. Also, inspecting and repairing crack in doors and windows can eliminate air leaks and prevent any unwelcomed visitors from crawling inside.

 --- Story Image: Amaryllis bloom in a WeatherBug user's garden in Goodrich, Texas.