April – Final Prep for Spring
Ah spring! It took you long enough to get here, but we’re happy to see you. In fact, we’re so excited at the slightest hint of warmer weather that we’re ready to rush outside, full of fresh energy, and take on all of those essential springtime maintenance tasks.
“April is the perfect window during the year to tackle many home projects, because we’ve moved past harsh winter conditions but not yet welcomed the heat of summer, which can really make maintenance tasks feel like chores,” according to Danny Lipford, a home improvement expert and host of the nationally syndicated TV and radio program “Today’s Homeowner With Danny Lipford.”
“In the majority of cases, regular maintenance takes minimal time and expense. But gone unchecked, minor tasks quickly turn into major headaches that could be avoided with a little regular attention.”
So, let’s tap into that seasonal surge of enthusiasm by completing these easy spring chores.
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Check Yard For Low Spots
Task: After a spring shower, tour your yard to look for puddles that indicate low spots where the ground may have settled – maybe that spot where a tree was removed a few years ago and the roots have begun to decay. That sunken ground will over saturate and kill your grass and provide a happy breeding ground for mosquitoes and other insects.
Shortcut: Mark low spots with a short stake. Fill a wheelbarrow with good dirt and make the rounds. Don’t worry about burying grass—it’ll grow through a couple of inches of soil cover.
Check Soil Drainage
Task: Make sure soil slopes away from foundation walls to prevent water from soaking the soil around your foundation and causing leaks and cracks.
Shortcut: Use an 8-foot-long stud (two-by-four) and a level to determine how much slope the land currently has.
Clean & Mulch Planting Beds
Task: Prepare flower and veggie beds for spring planting by removing debris, trimming back last year’s dead perennial growth, and adding compost and mulch. The best time to apply mulch is early spring before your perennials have gotten too much growth on them. This makes it easier and faster to put down the mulch and limits the damage to plants. However you can apply mulch at anytime during the year and many people in cold climate prefer to apply mulch in late fall to protect plants from winter damage. All mulches need to be applied 2-4 inches thick. Mulch tends to settle over time as it decomposes so apply an inch more than you want to end up with as a final thickness. Keep in mind that if the mulch is too thin you won’t receive the benefits from using mulch such as retaining moisture and suppressing weed growth.
Shortcut: To avoid double work, place a compostable bag on a wheelbarrow or garden cart, and fill it with weeds and spent plants as you work through the beds. If the green matter is disease-free, empty bags into your compost pile. If you see fungi or bugs, tie the bags and toss in the trash.
Check Soffit Vents
Task: Your house likes to breathe and has vents that let air circulate through the soffit, or eaves to ventilate through the attic/roof vents and help prevent mold and mildew and reduce air conditioning load in the summer. These vents keep out debris and—worse—critters. Tour your house to check and clean vents under the eaves and to repair any broken or missing vents.
Shortcut: To make easy repairs, look for premade vents at hardware stores and home improvement centers.
Spot Chipped Exterior Paint
Task: Not all house painting tasks are major. This yearly job involves inspecting your siding and exterior trim for small cracks and chips and repairing spots before moisture can penetrate.
Shortcut: Store and label extra paint in airtight containers so you can spot-paint as needed. Keep paint identification numbers on file so you can replace paint if you run out.
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