Your Spring Home Maintenance Checklist

As buds burst and butterflies flit across West Michigan, it’s time to shake off winter and welcome warmer days. A handy checklist is your best friend for making sure your home is ready for cookouts and summer fun.

Use this spring home maintenance checklist to help you breeze through the essential tasks, making the change from winter to spring easy and enjoyable.

Yard Preparations

While the ideal timing for yard cleanup is subject to regional weather variations, West Michigan residents should start on these activities once the last traces of snow have receded.

Tidy Your Yard

Start yard cleanup by removing accumulated debris and fallen leaves. Use a rake to clear the yard down to bare soil or grass, and bag the material to dispose of it. You can also use a durable tarp to efficiently transport the collected organic matter to compost or curbside pickup, depending on local municipal or garbage services.

Prepare Your Lawn

A dense thatch layer, or layer of dead material that accumulates on your lawn, can impede the essential flow of air, fertilizer and water to the lawn’s root system, preventing it from growing or looking healthy. You should proactively address this issue by deep raking to eliminate the thatch and then aerating the lawn, which disrupts the compacted soil and facilitates nutrient absorption.

Maintaining Landscaping

Your home’s first impression is its curb appeal. Yet often, a home’s outdoor landscaping is overlooked or underdone. Let’s walk through some quick and easy-to-handle tips to boost your curb appeal instantly: Enhance your home’s entrance using containers with vibrant plants, thus creating inviting entryways that add visual interest. Remember the planter rule of thumb – include plants that thrill (add height and visual interest), fill (take up space) and spill (over the edge for more visual interest).
Apply a fresh layer of mulch to garden beds, which enriches the soil and accentuates the surrounding flora.
Introduce seasonal color by strategically planting annual flowers and choosing hues that complement the home’s overall aesthetic. Utilize plants that bloom at different times so you always have flowering plants.
Consider installing a water fountain near a patio, providing a tranquil auditory backdrop that enhances outdoor relaxation.
Prune overgrown trees and shrubs after their blooming cycle concludes, demonstrating diligent care and maintaining the property’s aesthetic. Be sure to research the proper pruning practice for each plant or shrub type, as some prefer spring pruning while others react better to fall pruning. For flowering shrubs or trees, this distinction is especially important to ensure you don’t prune off next season’s flower buds.

Spring Home Exterior Maintenance

As patios and decks thaw, removing dead plants and debris is crucial. Then, thoroughly rinse and wipe the deck or patio and your outdoor furniture with a hose and appropriate cleaner. Neglecting these tasks can lead to wood rot or shorten the life of your outdoor furniture.

When focusing on your outdoors, don’t skip the gutters! Be sure the gutters and downspouts are clear of debris to prevent clogging. Over time, clogged gutters or downspouts can lead to rotting of your wood trim, landscape damage and more.

Once your outdoor living space is clean, adorn the space with colorful cushions and vibrant plants to ensure an inviting hangout spot.

Spring Home Interior Maintenance

To embrace the rejuvenating energy of the season, refresh your home’s interior with bright colors and seasonal décor. Maintenance tasks to accomplish in the spring include checking windows and doors for air leaks and caulking any spaces needed to enhance energy efficiency. Also be sure to conduct thorough tests of smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and change any units that exceed ten years of service. Replace outdated lightbulbs with energy-efficient alternatives to foster a more comfortable (and affordable) ambiance.