Gardening is a hobby for millions of people worldwide, however, most of us do have busy schedules, which is why we cannot actually spend a lot of time outside. Even though you might not have a lot of time for gardening, you still might want to go through the most crucial maintenance tasks.
However, you might now be wondering – what are those garden maintenance tasks that I must do every year? Fortunately for all individuals, this is exactly what we’ll discuss in this article today. Let’s take a closer look at the most important tasks you’ll want to do in your backyard:
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1. You Need to Clean Any Weep Hole
The first thing that you might want to do is to clean the weep holes. Now, if you have vinyl or sliding windows, they have a pretty big function – the holes at the bottom drain rainwater from your house, however, they can sometimes get clogged. Hence, to ensure that it is working properly, you’ll want to spray the window with a hose and see if the water exits. If it does not, you can use a wire to take care of the blockage. Once you are done, test it again to guarantee that it can function.
2. Clean Your Gutters!
You can use a plastic scoop or an old plastic spatula for cleaning leaves, branches, and other debris from your rain gutters. Additionally, ensure that you also use your hose for flushing away all the gathered dirt. However, if you are afraid of heights, you can always call a professional gutter cleaning company such as the one featured on this website. They won’t only help you clean the gutters, but they can tell you if some parts need repairing as well.
3. Your Roof Needs Attention as Well
A lot of homeowners overlook this important task, which is one of the reasons they end up paying for expensive repairs. Also, no one really wants to fix a roof during the cold winter months, hence, ensure that you inspect is and see whether or not there are any damages to the roof. You should look for missing or broken shingles, flashing, as well as discoloration. If you notice some of these problems, take care of them as soon as you can.
4. Outdoor Faucets Must Be Frost-Proof
Since winter is approaching, one of the most important things that you can choose to do is to install frost-proof faucets. They won’t only function during winter, but, they’ll also prevent dirty and contaminated water from reaching your home’s water system. Installing a new faucet won’t take a lot of your time, however, ensure that you install it properly since if not, it can do more damages than good.
5. Inspect Your Furnace And Exchange The Filter
One of the simplest things that you could do in order to keep your furnace in a good shape is to renew the filter. But, it does not stop there. You must also guarantee that it is safe for use, which is why you might want to hire a professional that will come and inspect the furnace. Besides checking your furnace, you should also inspect your chimney since nonfunctional ones are the leading cause of house fires.
6. Mow Your Lawn Frequently
You should mow your lawn during the whole year, but, when winter approaches, you should mow it until the grass stops growing for the year. Keep in mind, during your last mow of the year, you’ll want to cut it short and nice. Why should you do this? Well, by doing so, you’ll be reducing the chances of your lawn getting snow mold and damage, which means that you can keep it in good condition until the next spring.
7. Check Your Windows And Doors For Any Damage
One of the things a lot of people strive to reach is making their residence more green and efficient, however, if there are gaps around your windows and doors or if they are damaged, you may want to fix it since heat can quickly escape from the holes, meaning that your house is not as energy efficient as it can be. This is why you must ensure that you take care of any damages around your windowpanes and doors, especially before winter begins.
8. Take Care of Your Garden Furniture
No matter what material is your garden furniture made from, you should take care of it, especially since the weather elements can cause the colors to peel or fade. Hence, do not forget to clean your outdoor furniture at least once a year, and if there are problems with the paint, you could always choose to sand the pieces down and repaint them. This will prolong their lifespan and it will certainly make your backyard more appealing.
9. Say ‘Goodbye’ to Critters And Insects
As the weather gets colder, insects and critters start looking for warm and nice areas where they can settle down during winter. But, this does not mean that they should settle down in your home. This is why you should ensure that there are no breaks and holes in the sidewalls of your house. If there are, you could always seal them up, meaning that you can get rid of any annoying pest that bothered you before.
10. Patio, Steps, And Handrail Safety
If you have a patio, as well as steps and handrails, you’ll want to walk around your estate and test all of these things out. For instance, by not checking your handrails, someone could grab a loose one, which can result in them injuring themselves. The same goes for your patio, especially if it is old. Hence, in order to determine whether or not these things are safe for use, examine and test them out at least once a year.
Conclusion
So, there you have it – the list above mentioned some of the most crucial garden tasks that you’ll want to do in order to properly and efficiently maintain your garden. And, by doing so, you’ll surely make everything easier, but more importantly, you can ensure that you do not have to pay for expensive repairs and damages.
Hence, now that you are aware of all the things you’ll want to do, you might not want to lose any more of your time. Instead, return to the beginning of this list and go through it once again in order to determine what tools and equipment you have and which ones you might need to purchase in order to properly finish your annual backyard maintenance tasks.
