Yard Maintenance - An Introduction

by Ron Hartfield

The summer is a fabulous time of the year. It’s the time to get outside and have a lot of fun. It’s also the time when it appears that there’s always something that must be done or worked at. And, tasks like mowing and weeding need to be carried out on a regular basis.

You particularly have to work on your lawn regularly to keep it looking green. If there’s been a harsh winter, there may be spots that need to be re-sown with grass seed. Using a quality fertilizer can help your grass grow thick and healthy. And, weed killers can give your lawn a manicured look.

Wood chips and plastic sheeting can be utlized in flower beds to eliminate the need to weed. It can also assist the soil to retain moisture and reduce watering times. And, your trees, bushes and shrubs will need pruning and trimming.

The wood on your deck often takes a beating throughout the winter. The melting snow, freezing and thawing can quickly damage the decks surface. Completely cleaning the wood and resealing will prevent it from deteriorating further and needing replacement. A little time now can save you from increased work at a future point.

Solar lights are fundamentally care free additions to your garden. The only maintenance they need is an occassional cleaning. Light coverings should be removed and cleaned to remove dirt and dust. And, any debris should be cleaned off.

It’s a really good idea to check the exterior of your house for cracks or loose siding that will permit water to ingress and cause rotting. Siding that has started to mold or mildew can often be cleaned with soap and water using brushes. But, for really bad stains you can buy proprietary cleaning materials.

If you are a swimming pool owner the water must be tested each 7 days. Maintaining the balance of chemicals in your pool at the required level will keep the water free of bacteria and safe for your family. And, the heat of the summer will make the bacteria and germs to incubate so don’t miss this task.

While it may be alright to let your outdoor summer tasks get behind from time to time, don’t let them lapse for too much time. Things that are not done in a timely manner take much longer to complete when you do get around to it. And, summer time is for enjoying the outdoors with your family, not toiling all the time.

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