Spring is right around the corner. Meaning, time to eagerly get back out into the garden and yard. Before you do that, there are few things needed to ensure your summer doesn’t end up costing you even more money. A lot of damage can happen to the landscape over the winter, so it’s essential that you run a maintenance check on everything.
Get On The Roof
The winter storms can cause a lot of damage, and since you’ve been hunkered down in your house for three months, you might have missed some damage. Inspect for missing or damaged shingles, make sure vents and pipes aren’t damaged or clogged. While you’re up there, you might as well.
Clean Out The Gutters
Scoop out any leaves or debris that has accumulated over the winter. Make sure water is draining properly and not pooling. Cluttered debris can create a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Check for clogs in the downspouts.  If you’re careful, a lightweight leaf blower can be a great way to clear out your gutters. If you live in a wooded area, consider investing in a leaf guard for your gutter.
Siding
Use a pressure washer with soap to wash mold and mildew off your siding. Pay particular attention to the sides of the house that don’t get direct sunlight or the north side of your home. Inspect your wooden surfaces for cracks or weathering if you have aluminum siding check to see that there aren’t any loose or dislodged pieces that could allow animals or insects inside.
Caulking
Check the caulking around your doors and windows for weathering. Cracks in caulk are easy entry points for spiders, ants, and other pests. Scrape out old caulk before you apply more.
Check Your Sprinkler Systems
Your irrigation system is your property’s lifeline, an expensive lifeline, so it’s vital to make sure it’s working correctly. Before it becomes the peak of spring and your lawn needs it, turn on your sprinkler system and check to see all the zones are working correctly. Make sure the heads are operating correctly and are retracting correctly. Check for any leaks and make sure you aren’t spraying your house with water as this can cause ugly orange rust marks. If you don’t know how to de-winterize your sprinklers, then call a professional.
Perform a Home Safety Check
Change all the batteries in your smoke detectors, make sure fire extinguishers aren’t expired and still retain pressure. Examine all windows and doors to make sure they work as they should and have locks that also work. Checking these few things can be vital in the event of an emergency.
Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Areas
As the weather warms mosquitos and other pests will be emerging too. The best way to keep mosquitos away from your yard is to make it uninviting. That means getting rid of any standing water. Take a walk around your property and check for water in flower pots, children’s toys, old tires, animal waterers, and bird baths. Removing or replacing any water features (with fresh water, like bird baths) after each rain is an easy way to keep your yard mosquito free.
Taking proactive measures to ensure your property is properly maintained will save you a lot of time, money, and effort in the long run.
Meredith Hale is a gardening and landscape writer, and design addict. She has coordinated the design on many house flipping projects, admitting that her favorite part is creating inspired outdoor spaces.
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