Spring is a great time to make improvements aimed at boosting your home’s curb appeal.
As the weather starts to change and warm up, the buds start coming out on the trees, we shed our winter hibernation and get outside. Spring is a great time to enjoy the outdoors and take a look at the outside of your home, or if you’re in a condo and have a balcony, it may be time to boost your curb and balcony appeal.
If you’re high in the sky and live in a condo with a balcony, start with moving everything out and giving it a good wash – floor, walls, railings, etc. A few great things to have to make your outdoors welcoming and an extension of your home is by putting an outdoor rug outside. If you want something soft under your toes, consider an artificial grass area rug for your balcony.
Bring the green to you! Space permitting, bring a small table or a chair or two to enjoy a morning coffee. Add some planters, and maybe string a row of outdoor lights to warm up your outside space, or use battery-operated candles in a lantern or two.
Even the smallest of changes like a new mail box or changing your house numbers to something bigger or a different finish, painting your front door or changing your front welcome mat or runner can be the touch it needs.
There are however some bigger jobs to think about – 10 in fact that will make an impact or are a must-do!
Maintenance on your wood deck and fences
Staining or re-sealing each spring will keep your wood decks and fences in great shape. Don’t forget to assess any other outdoor structures, or gates and railings too, and repair or touch up as needed. Doing this kind of maintenance will extend the life and keep everything looking great.
Wash your stone or concrete patios and driveway
Wash away the grime of winter! You can use a regular garden hose or a pressure washer to rid your driveway or patios of water marks, dirt, grease and oil stain and mildew.
Wash your siding
You can use a garden hose and attach a cleaning kit for siding. You can also use a power washer, but be careful, as the force of the pressure washer may not be good for your siding. Be sure you don’t use a pressure washer that only has a zero-degree nozzle. It’s best to use one that has a wide nozzle to lessen the pressure.
Tidy up your entrances
Clean the floor area leading to your entrance. Wash your doors and remove any dirt, debris and cobwebs from any entrance lights and high in the corners. Add a plant or flowers in a planter to add to your home’s curb appeal, and put down a new entrance mat.
Windows and windowsills
Inside and out… Wash your windows, and wipe off windowsills.
Outdoor furniture
You will need a hose, bucket, brush, cloth and dish soap. Start scrubbing!
Clear out the shed, garage or storage locker
When you don’t know where to put something, it often lands in the shed, garage or storage locker. It’s a good time to go through the items and get rid of the clutter. You can either donate, have a garage sale or leave it on the curb… someone’s clutter will be someone’s new treasure!
Lawn maintenance, or consider artificial grass
There is a great debate about having real or artificial grass. There are certainly advantages to having one or the other. A real lawn requires more TLC and equipment. However, when maintained, it is beautiful.
You want to have some equipment on hand like a lawn mower, trimmer for cleaning up the edges and leaf blower, unless you sign on with a grass cutting company. A leaf rake is needed for the fall, and it’s a good idea to have a soil rake which will help move soil and break down clumps to prepare for any seeding you need to do. A spreader is needed for fertilizing your lawn and either an irrigation system or sprinkler to tend to your new seed or lawn throughout the season. You may also need to have some grub, creeping weed, crabgrass or thatch control on hand.
Artificial grass is great for those that either have a small area but want green, or don’t have the time or inclination to maintain a lawn. Artificial grass has many benefits. Not only does it look great 12 months of the year, but it is very low maintenance, eco-friendly, safe for pets and children, and you won’t need the chemicals or the equipment to maintain the grass. A leaf blower is still a good idea, and you will want to have a hose on hand, especially if you have pets. You simply pick up and hose down the area. Whatever your choice, green is one of the colours of the season.
Pruning and preparing your gardens and flower beds
For most plants and trees, you want to prune before any new growth appears. Flower beds need to be weeded; pull old mulch off; turn the soil and top up with new soil; plant, and spread new mulch to ward off weeds and retain moisture.
Time to test sprinklers and irrigation system
Don’t be caught with your gardens or lawn thirsty. Test your system, and adjust heads or repair as needed. In addition to sprinklers, if you have gardens, consider a drip line. It can often be added to one of your lines and will keep your gardens looking beautiful all season long.