When the summer months arrive, it’s a wonderful time to get out in the beautiful sunshine and enjoy the warm weather as long as it lasts. Homeowners can get the most out of their homes and gardens during the season by focusing on summer maintenance tasks that are best completed while the sun is out and the ground is relatively dry. Here are five tips to take into consideration as you get ready to enjoy the longer days of light and really take advantage of everything your property has to offer.
Summer Gardening in the Heat
Although the bright summer months provide ideal growing conditions in sunlight for your garden’s plants and flowers, in areas with overwhelming heat this can also be a challenge. Raymundo Ocampo, the grounds manager at a renowned spa and resort in Tucson, Arizona, where the summer heat is extreme, reminds gardeners that it’s “easier to mitigate too much sunlight than too much shade.” He recommends shade cloths for those plants and flowers that become overexposed to harsh sunlight during the summer months. He also suggests protecting vegetable gardens from weeds by putting down mulch.
Clean Up Winter Grime and Debris
The winter months can take a toll on your home’s appearance. Mud, snow, grime and debris build up in the cold weather because it’s not possible to take care of many home maintenance tasks. When summer hits, it’s time to look at those neglected areas of your home’s appearance that can now be tended to. A great first approach to cleaning away the winter build-up is with a thorough pressure wash of your home’s exterior. Pressure washers can be rented if you don’t own one, and they are a quick and inexpensive way to get your home looking clean.
There are several areas to be sure you cover when you wash down the exterior areas of your home. The driveway should be sprayed down, as well as the deck and any exterior walkways. The idea is to get your outdoor living spaces prepped for entertaining and enjoying them during the warmer weather. That being the case, don’t forget to clean off outdoor furniture and get your barbecue grill ready to throw down some delicious eats for summer festivities.
Dealing With the Heat
An essential summer component for staying cool and comfortable at home is your HVAC unit for heating and cooling. Having a preventative summer maintenance check on your air conditioning is one of the first things you should do when the weather starts heating up. An air conditioning service professional will check over your unit to make sure that everything is in proper working order, and can also refill the refrigerant gas if needed. Making sure that your A/C is in top shape will ensure that you don’t encounter any unexpected cooling emergencies when temperatures soar.
Beautify Outdoor Spaces
Summer is the ultimate time for outdoor entertaining and for enjoying the landscaping on your property. This makes the warm months the perfect time for sprucing up flower beds and lawns. Weeding is the first step to making sure your flower beds are ready for bright new blooms. Good choices for planting color in the summer include marigolds, black-eyed Susan’s, hibiscus and lantana. They all have bright and vibrant color and provide lots of summer blooms.
Wash down any patio furniture that has built up dirt over the winter months. Now is a great time to splurge on some extras to give a bit of sparkle to your outdoor space, like fanciful string lighting, candle lanterns or new chair cushions. Make sure you don’t forget to protect the space from outdoor pests as well, such as mosquitoes. Large citronella candles are a natural solution and have the added bonus of adding ambiance to the space. With these tips, you’ll be ready to enjoy the warmth of summer in comfort and style.
