Having a house with a big backyard that is filled with all kinds of trees, flowers, and plants is something that many people dream of. If you are one of those people that finally managed to achieve this dream, you are in for a treat. All you have to do is sit, relax and watch all those trees bloom during springtime, right? That’s what most new homeowners think, but it is not that simple. Assuming that you do not want your backyard to turn into some wild jungle, you will need to do some cleaning.
Since spring is when most plants start blooming or producing and its finally starting to get a bit warmer, you will get to spend a lot more time outdoors. Most of that time you will be outdoors will need to be dedicated to your spring yard clean up.
At first, it might seem like a daunting task, but if you take everything slowly, you will be done in just a couple of days. There is no need to rush it and overwhelm yourself. To help you keep track of the process and keep everything steady, we have made a list of several backyard cleaning tips that are especially good for new homeowners.
Start raking
One of the first things you need to do after the snow has finally melted and grass has started showing is to rake everything. Your yard will probably be riddled with all kinds of fallen leaves or dead plants that dried out during the winter season. Not everything can survive the cold temperatures of that season.
After going through the lawn with the rake several times, most of the land should be clear of debris. Although, there are probably larger objects such as dead tree branches or anything similar that you will have to pick up. Grab a nice pair of gloves with enough protection and start picking up stuff that you couldn’t with the rake.
Try composting
Once you have collected all of that debris, you are probably thinking about throwing it all away. Why should it take up any more room from your lawn after you have spent so much time clearing it from the ground? Well, there is actually quite a good use of all those dead leaves and other parts of dead plants. You can put everything you found into one giant pile and leave it there to compost.
As a newcomer, you probably do not have a place where you can keep this pile safe, but if you have some extra wooden or wire fencing, you can make a small cube with that. Stick everything in there and then pour some water in it. Make sure you place the cube somewhere on the side, away from where you will be sitting most of the time because composing leaves can get a bit smelly.
To speed up the process of composting, make sure to pour water every few days.
Trim trees and bushes
After last year’s spring, all of the trees and bushes in your backyard have probably doubled in size. Well, at least the bushes probably have. While it is great to have big healthy-looking bushes and trees to give your yard an authentic look, it is still best to prune them once in a while so they can have some kind of form.
We recommend that you start trimming all of those dried out branches that you can find and those that are severely damaged too. You can do most of this with handheld shears. Although, you might even find some big dead branches which means you will either need a folding or a bow saw. If you feel comfortable working with power tools then a chainsaw will be able to cut through anything.
If you do not want to invest a lot of cash in a chainsaw or maybe you do not feel comfortable using one, you should consider calling professional services that can easily deal with the trees in your yard. For example, this site offers stump or tree removal, pruning, and trimming.
Pressure washing
When talking about a yard, it is not always just about the flower beds and the trees. Assuming that you truly want to make everything look good, you will need to take care of your pathways and your patio too. I would suggest that you first start with a simple brush and start scrubbing away any debris such as dirt, pebbles, and leaves.
It might take a bit more effort while scrubbing because all of that dirt that has been sitting there throughout the entire winter season will not give up so easily. Spray a bit of water with your hose to make it easier for yourself. Once you have cleared up most of the debris from your pathway, it is time to pull out the pressure washer. Check out gardeningstuffs.com to learn how to turn garden hose into a pressure washer.
A pressure washer is a must-have for every homeowner. It allows you to clean everything in a matter of minutes or even seconds.
Once you have plugged it and put the appropriate attachment start spraying away. Start washing every single bit of concrete to make it shine like the first day you installed it. Once you are done working on the pathways, you can continue on the patio with the same steps. First, brush then do the pressure washing.
Fix fence damage
Most of the time, fences can get a bit damaged after a winter of heavy snow and very low temperatures. All of that moisture from the snow has probably done damage to the paint which means you will have to do some repainting if you truly want to get your backyard to its former glory.
Don’t worry, this won’t take up a lot of your time. I’m sure that you probably have a couple of backup paint cans in your garage ready for use. Apply paint only on those beams on the fence that have been damaged, you won’t have to go through every single one.
Once you are done with this, your backyard should look great and ready for use.
