You never thought it was going to happen. The sun was gone so long you thought maybe we'd be doomed to live in perpetual darkness and snow forever. But alas, spring has now arrived and fresh green buds are popping from tree branches. We can rejoice that the long winter is over, but it also means it’s time to whip your home into shape.

Last month we talked about some of the things you can do to prep your house for spring on the inside. Now it’s time to move outdoors. There are plenty of things to do outside, so get ready for some exercise and a much-needed refresh around your home.

Check For Damage

Throughout the winter, your home can go through some pretty harsh weather. As a result, it’s possible some damage has occurred, so it’s a great idea to do a full inspection of the exterior of your home, all the way around and top to bottom. 

• Check your exterior finishes such as siding or stucco for any chips, cracks, or missing pieces. 
• Check downspouts and put into proper position as early as possible to accommodate snow melt from your roof. 
• Check your gutters and clean out debris if needed. Be sure your eavestroughs are still tightly fastened to your home. A loose eavestrough doesn’t work properly to drain moisture away from your home.
• Safely check your roof for any missing shingles, and replace as soon as possible if so.
• Check your hose bibbs for cracks. If you accidentally left a hose attached before the cold weather, you may have some damage. Repair cracked hose bibbs to prevent water from leaking back into your home.
• If you have a wood burning fireplace in your home, call a professional to have it cleaned and the chimney inspected. A clogged and/or dirty chimney is a major cause of carbon monoxide poisoning and house fires.

Pesky Pests

With spring comes bugs and pests, too. When you’re doing your inspection, look carefully for any holes or compromised areas where rodents, bees, and wasps may take up residence. If you do happen to find a hive, call a professional to have it removed.

Winter’s Leftovers

Once that snow begins to melt, it’s like a treasure trove revealed. Sometimes it’s good news; you’ve been wondering for months where your TV remote ended up. Sometimes you wish the snow had stayed intact because now there are dead bits of nature everywhere like a tree branch graveyard. Grab some gloves, an industrial garbage bin, and pick up everything you can to relieve the ground underneath and let it breathe again.

Get Excited for Your Garden

If you’re lucky enough to have a garden these days, you know now is the time to freshen up the little life pods. Inspect your garden space for leftover plant materials from last year and remove everything that shouldn’t be there. Add fresh soil and/or compost if needed, and be sure to mix it in and loosen up the dirt in preparation for planting. Let your new dirt rest for a couple of weeks before you begin your planting.

This might be a great time to add on to your garden as well. Freshen up your space with a brand new bird bath or hang a couple of urban beehives on the fence nearby. If you’re growing flowers, be sure to include some bee friendly breeds to keep our nature’s ecosystem healthy and thriving. Bees are imperative to our food system; any little bit you can do to help makes a big impact.

When to Start Cutting the Lawn

The most exciting part about spring is beginning the lawn mowing cycle. This means summer is coming and more time can be spent outside. But when is it ideal to begin mowing the lawn?

The experts say that mowing your lawn when it’s too short, or cutting it short in spring makes your sod susceptible to disease. It is recommended to wait until your grass is 2” in height, and then start cutting in the early season with a high blade. Use your intuition when it’s time to cut again; in the beginning, it will be roughly two weeks in between, and then gradually increases as your grass grows faster.

Of course, hiring a professional for the season is always an option as well. By doing this, you’ll also benefit from full lawn servicing such as weed removal, green treatment, and an array of other services to choose from. Plus, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing your weekends can be for relaxation instead of yard work.

When it comes to caring for your home, these simple steps can go a long way to preserving the integrity of your home and keep your curb appeal one of the nicest in the neighbourhood.

Photo credits: planting, kids gardening