Leaving Winter Behind - Spring has Sprung!

People around here are feeling the winter blues after an unusually cold and snowy winter. But with warmer weather arriving soon, you can create a feeling of spring with some simple projects.

Roll up your sleeves with these home and gardening tips:

As temperatures begin to warm, time to enjoy the outdoors is just around the corner. Soon enough you'll be relaxing with family and friends on your deck or in the backyard around a fire pit. Take time now to get prepared for spring and summer days. Has winter taken its toll on your deck? Take a look around the property. Can your siding, brick or stucco use a good power washing? How about your roof? Are there streaks of black or green mildew buildup showing? The calls have already been coming in for these kind of projects.

Get a jumpstart on your landscaping projects by removing traces of winter from your yard. As soon as the snow melts and the ground thaws, pick up or mow leaves and fallen twigs, trim or prune the bushes and give your grass a professional look by edging along paved pathways. Be sure to replace any dead bushes.

It’s also time to get your lawn in shape by applying fertilizer to make it thick and green. Be sure to rake up dead patches of grass and add seeds in them.

Start preparing for your spring garden by planning which plants and flowers will be included this year. You may even want to start by planting seedlings indoors. Once spring arrives and the ground thaws, you can transfer your indoor seedlings outside. In the meantime, enjoy the beauty of your indoor garden as it reminds you of the warm weather on the way. Think about adding flowers that will attract butterflies to the garden this summer.

Spring is calling and it’s time to leave the winter blues behind. Before you know it, your home and backyard will feel a sense of spring renewal that will provide long hours of enjoyment for months to come.