Home Care Tips for Your Outdoor Spaces

Our outdoor spaces help frame our homes and provide areas where we can relax outside and get some fresh air. But before we can sit and enjoy the comfort of our patio furniture, there are a few things that are important to upkeep.

Decks are a great spot for moving dinner time outside. If not taken care of properly, decks can easily deteriorate and become quite an expense if not maintained well. 

Keep up with repairs. Always make sure to get maintenance done as soon as you see something wrong so you can avoid an entire replacement.

Seal it up. No matter how old or new a deck is, it should always have a sealant on it to keep moisture and sunlight from altering the wood and otherwise warping, cracking, or rotting. Having your deck professionally sealed every 2-3 years and will help keep it in good shape and looking good as new. 

Keep it clean. Put flower pots on cement blocks, use a grease catcher under your grill, sweep regularly and shovel snow off as soon as possible. This will prevent moisture being trapped, and prevent your deck from being stained. 

Patios are a great place to host a small party or kick your feet up with a good book. A patio can easily get dirty and start to look and feel gritty if not cared for properly. 

Make it sparkle. Though patios are often are concrete, this doesn’t mean it is necessarily indestructible or have the full ability to hide dirt or stains. Make sure to sweep, hose down and spot clean any stains or grease regularly so the area continues to look fresh and new. Be sure to clear off any furniture or plants so the process can be accomplished with ease. 

Freshen your furniture. Patio furniture can easily get dirty. Depending on the material of your furniture, you can usually use mild cleaning solutions like vinegar and take a hose to rinse off any dirt or grime that has accumulated over the seasons. Cushions should be cleaned and rinsed off (based on care instructions) to keep materials looking nice. Always make sure to keep furniture covered or moved inside for storage during the colder seasons to prevent deterioration. Don’t forget to rinse and clean your umbrella too! 

Lighting love. Give your lights a check and see if you need to replace any bulbs. Cleaning up fixtures and inspecting the way they are secured will also help prevent expensive replacements. 

Garden health is a reward in its own. Whether you like to grow your own produce or add natural pops of color around your house, maintaining your garden can help keep your home looking refreshed and beautiful. 

Easy to maintain plants. It’s always good to take climate and soil hardiness into consideration for what plants work best in your area. However, If you’re looking to reduce your grocery bill, some easy vegetables to grow are peppers, onions, basil, tomatoes, and chard. If you’d rather grow flowers, a good place to start is to consider planting dahlia's, sunflowers, roses, petunias and black eyed Susan's. 

Sun, shade or both? Plants can be picky when it comes to sunlight, if you’re planting around your lawn make sure those types of plants will work best in the amount of sunlight that area provides by taking into consideration shading from trees and your house. Using potted plants around your house can be an easy way to move them to better sun spots. Always check the plant’s description to know what conditions it will best thrive in. 

Water, Trim, Prune. Watering your plants the right amount is crucial to the success of its growth. If you over water, it may cause root rot and if you under water, the plant will end up shriveling. Check for yellowing leaves, this often indicates the plant is being over watered. While trimming and pruning helps allow better air circulation for the plant to grow and less of an opportunity for leaves to get wet, which can cause mold to grow on the plants.

Lawn maintenance can be tricky and taxing, but it helps our homes feel open, spacious and healthy looking. 

Weeds. The thing that most homeowners dread. Killing weeds effectively is usually based on good timing and weed killers that are sustainable. A great and inexpensive way to prevent weeds is by laying down a layer of organic mulch and landscape fabric. 

Cutting height. Adjusting the cutting height based on the time of year will help allow more or less sunlight as needed to get to the crown of the grass. During the summer you can raise the blade up to 2 or more inches. During spring and fall lower blades to about 1-½ inches. Be sure to keep the blade sharp for a clean and even cut. 

Soak vs. Sprinkle. Watering your lawn with a good soak helps it penetrate deeply for better root health. While sprinkling only covers the surface and doesn’t allow the grass to effectively hydrate. The best time to water is early in the morning so the lawn has time to dry out before nightfall, preventing fungi to grow from excess moisture.

 

Want More Tips for Managing Your Home?

Willow is our sister company offering home concierge and proactive home maintenance. Check out our new brand and explore recent articles:

▶ Home maintenance service plans are a growing trend in homeownership. What are they, and what do they offer? We break down the pros and cons here.

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▶ Just how much should you invest in home maintenance? Read top recommendations from industry experts here.

▶ Want to avoid financial pain and unwanted surprises? Who doesn’t? Learn about the Most Expensive Home Repairs and how to avoid them.

▶ Are you a Colorado resident? Explore our Seasonal Home Care Tips for Colorado to help keep your home in great shape year-round.

 
 
 

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Anna Cook