5 Things To Do To Prep Your Backyard for Spring and Summer

As the days get longer and the weather gets warmer, now is the perfect time to dive into your yard. In preparation for the spring and summer months, we’ve put together a list of some things that you can do to transform your outdoor space into an alfresco oasis.

Clear Dead Growth from Flower Beds & Flower Pots

Leaving your plants intact through the winter months gives wildlife shelter and can be a valuable food source, but when new signs of life begin to appear after the snow melts, it’s time to cut back old growth. Clear away any dry, dead leaves and branches from last year to allow sunlight to reach the new plants beginning to grow! While it may be too cold still in some provinces to start planting flowers just yet, clearing out the dead growth can also help you plan your garden when the weather is appropriate for planting.

Give Your Lawn Some Love

Giving your lawn some TLC is a great way to begin to spruce up your backyard. Tune up your lawnmower to ensure it is in good working order, sharpen the blades and aerate your lawn to help promote new grass growth. Give your lawn a good healthy haircut as soon as the weather permits and spread some fertilizer to help kick start the growing process. Patch any bare spots that may have appeared from underneath the snow, spread some fertilizer and if the weather permits, let your sprinkler run to help kick start the growing process.

Outdoor Furniture & Barbecue Prep

If your furniture has been packed away in a storage shed for the colder months, now is the time to bring them out and clean them up. The warm weather is also a great opportunity to break out the barbecue and get it cleaned and ready for the summer months. Check the levels on your propane tanks, scrape down the grill so you have a fresh grilling surface and if your barbecue has been tucked away to stay out of the elements, bring it out into the light!

Clean Your Deck/Patio

After the winter months, your deck or patio is most likely covered in a good layer of dirt and grime. Before you begin enjoying happy hour on your deck, it is probably a good idea to give it a good wash before the spring and summer months. Move off all deck furniture and decorative pieces and hose your deck or patio down. Use an old broom and a pail of water with a cleaning solution to scrub the deck down and rid it of any stubborn grime. Hose down any outdoor furniture cushions and leave them out in the sun to dry.

Once everything is clean and dry, you can put everything back together and if you’re feeling like a change from last year, move things around and rearrange!

Start Planning for Some Colour

While the temperature might not yet be cooperative for beginning to plant flower beds and fill flower pots, now is a perfect time to start planning what plants, shrubs and flowers you are going to want in your outdoor space. Do some research on what flowers are going to be the most tolerant to your outdoor conditions and plan accordingly. Begin to place your flower pots around your space to start planning which flowers will go where. If you are wanting to go with a certain colour scheme with your flowers, figure out what other shrubs and grasses will complement and add some greenery to your backyard space.

Looking for more ways to boost your home’s curb appeal and property value? Contact a RE/MAX agent for the advice you need.