Ok, maybe I am jumping the gun a little bit here... but I have seen more stinkbugs creeping around lately, and did see a tiny little ant crawl across my brick pathway yesterday morning. Those two irritating critters are one of the first signs that I personally hone in on when it starts to smell like Spring to me. And once the seed is planted, my mind quickly wanders to things like opening windows, fresh breezes, planting my garden, setting up my patio, and other springesque home tasks.
But what to tackle first... Hmmm... Indoor chores? Outdoor projects? There is always so much to choose from after a long, cold winter. I do confess that last year, I was one of the first out of the gates when it came to getting into spring fever mode. Literally on the first day over 80 degrees (near the end of April, I think?) I burned Jeep rubber right on over to my nearest Wal-Mart, purchased one of those 18 foot $300 soup-bowl style "instant gratification" pools, and had it filled and sparkling before the end of the day. I proudly floated the good float on my trusty pool raft for at least a day or two (literally, floating only, because that water was C-O-L-D), totally basking in others' clear pool envy (at least in my mind). And my brilliant forward-thinking Springtastic move was just in time for the weather pattern to go back to normal: For the next few weeks it was only in the 70's in the day and 40's at night. Total Spring buzzkill. Needless to say my bright Spring fever idea turned into an early and unrewarding pool maintenance routine, complete with the bonus pool pump electric bill <ouch>. Perhaps the government should insist upon a cooling off period law for pools, much like the handgun laws, forcing me to wait several days before allowing me to take my pool purchase home - Clearly I need saving from myself.
Even if you are not nearly as uncontrollably impulsive to jumpstart Spring as I have been, there certainly are more appropriate (though often less exciting!) things you can and more importantly, should do when the seasons begin to change - both inside and outside of the home. Here are seven of my personal top picks for both homeowners and renters alike to consider:
- Change those air filters: Be it a central air system, or several window units that have (or have not been) winterized, it is a good idea to have those babies ready for the first hotter days to come. There is nothing worse than going to fire up the good old AC and having moldy, mildewy funky smells ruin your plans to cool off. And in the most recent few years, my new favorite olfactory favorite has become stinkbug stowaways, who have wintered in any/all cracks and crevices possible and smell absolutely pungent when disturbed. Awful business. Filters are easy to change and/or sanitize, and well worth the effort considering that whole breathable air supply requirement thing we humans have to address. Your AC should be odor free, and noticeably drier in comparison to humid outdoor air. And of course, well maintained units function more efficiently than dirty abused ones, keeping more $ in your pocket - And that is by far the most refreshing concept of all!
- Beat back the bushes: Trim any vegetation, be it bush, tree or otherwise, that has crept close to your home to ensure that growth is at least a foot away from your siding or roof lines. We got out and did ours a week or two ago, when we had the first tolerable day (and by tolerable, we are not talking tropical - there were still sweatpants and jackets involved). In past years we have waited far too long into the spring, and by the time we acknowledged that it was time to play Edward Scissorhands we were greeted by angry twisted vines and new spring growth that had actually attempted to forcibly strangle our HVAC unit. Worse, throughout our task we were creeped out by a myriad of spiders, wasps, hornets and other unpleasant little friends that made our task take twice as long. Not to mention, those with really bad spring allergies start to suffer with the first flowering of trees and grasses, something not yet in peak if you get out there early.
- Get your mulch on: There is nothing worse than trying to mulch when it is too late... the weeds will have already taken over and again, creepy crawlies will be there to make it a much less pleasant task. And anyone who has had the pleasure knows all too well that mulch smells much worse in the hotter months. As a bonus, having properly mulched flower beds will encourage earlier appearances of annuals because of the higher thermal mass it brings to the table. Super-secret Realtor Tip: If you are photographing your house in order to list it or for some other purpose, wet the mulched areas right before you shoot - the water will darken the mulch and make the beds appear fresher, with more contrast and make your beds pop in photos.
- Start your garden - It's an inside job: With the rising prices of food and the unknown effects of hundreds of commercial pesticides, growing a garden - no matter how small - is always a good idea. Buy one of those seed starter trays and start your seedlings indoors. There is nothing more satisfying than harvesting your own veggies, fruits and herbs - It can be a totally Zen experience, as long as you don't bite off more than you can chew for your individual green thumb level. I am a big fan of box gardens, framing up four 2x12's into a square bed (do NOT use pressure treated lumber as the chemicals that will leech into your garden soil are dangerous!), and adding good soil and natural fertilizers a few weeks/months before I plant anything there. And what an amazing, hands-on way to teach children about botany!
- Become a fan of the ceiling fan: Switch your ceiling fan directional switches to the summer setting to get the full intended function - In summer, the leading edge should be the higher edge. If your fans are properly calibrated, using them (and their lovely breezes) in lieu of AC on more temperate days, or even using them to help circulate the AC on hotter days may just save you a few bucks on cooling. And while you are at it, clean the blades with a swiffer or furniture wipes. It is amazing the amount of dust and debris that sticks to fan blades over time.
- Get your mind in the gutter: Over the years I have seen many folks with curious springtime wet basements-we tend to get more rain in the spring, of course. A good 40% of the time, the biggest problem is that a downspout is improperly adjusted to the splashblock and the water is spilling over and running down the foundation wall versus being directed away from the home. Simple solution? #1 - Make sure the splashblock is properly sized, is less than 3" from the end of the downspout end, and is at a grade that forces water to drain away, and #2 - Attach a two foot long section of corrugated pipe (the kind without weep holes) to the end of the downspout (it is actually most often a perfect fit!), directing water away from the home. And be sure to splash on out in your rainboots during a downpour to ensure it is working as intended. Just might work for you. If it does, take care to and address any small foundation separations or cracks with masonry epoxy, and be sure to backfill the eroded soil that the water pushed away over time. But if it doesn't work to end the water infiltration, be sure to retain a professional to investigate and remedy it. Wet basements are a very serious issue with resales and condition disclosure, and will be an obstacle if you ever go to sell.
- Enter Sandman: Get a bag or two of masonry sand and brush it back and forth in every direction into any walkways, patios, or brickwork that do not have mortar. Any outdoor push broom or traditional broom will get the job done. This simple filler will help keep a good number of weeds from taking root (and pushing edges even further apart), creating additional maintenance in the warmer months (ew! weeding!), and keep the stones or bricks from excessive shifting with the extreme temperature changes resulting in contraction or expansion.
Have some of your own favorite tips? Please share them via post below - I would love to hear them!
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