When spring arrives, we’re all very used to cleaning the inside of our homes from top to bottom. But after a cold, wet and windy winter, you may find that the exterior parts of your home could benefit from a spruce-up too.
If you’re thinking about spring cleaning your outside spaces, here are some of the jobs you may want to add to your to-do list.
Clean the gutters
Over autumn and winter, gutters can fill up with leaves, moss and other debris. So, gutter cleaning is a good place to start your exterior spring clean. If you’re keen to get this ticked off, use a professional service. You might also wish to ask them to fit some gutter guards at the same time, to help keep the gutters clear.
Clear the decks
A lack of sunlight and increased moisture levels over winter means that garden paths, patios and driveways are likely to have a build-up of algae and moss, making them look a bit grotty. So, give your paving, decking and other hard surfaces a sweep before cleaning with a pressure washer or stiff brush and soapy water.
Pick up the paintbrush
If the garden is still looking a bit drab after you’ve finished sweeping and jet washing, it might be time to pick up the paintbrush. There are plenty of surfaces around the garden that can be brightened up with paint, including fences, gates, plant pots, garden furniture, sheds and even the front and back door. Spring is a great time to carry out exterior painting as temperatures are warm enough for the paint to dry, but as it isn’t yet hot, you shouldn’t tire out too quickly.
Take care of the wildlife
Spring isn’t just a busy time for us; it’s also a busy time for garden birds as they nest and raise their chicks. To give them a helping hand, you might be thinking of filling up your feeders. If so, it’s a good idea to clean and disinfect your tables, hanging feeders and bird baths first to help keep fledglings and their parents healthy.
Tidy the shed
As the growing season starts, you’ll be reaching into your shed more often. So, now is a good time to get it tidy and organised to ensure all your weeding and sowing equipment is easy to find. Crates are handy for keeping pots and hand tools organised while wall hooks are perfect for bigger garden tools. It’s also worth sweeping the shed floor and inspecting dark corners to make sure you’re not harbouring pests in there too.
Replenish borders
After winter, the borders and beds might be looking a bit bare. As the growing season begins, you can start sowing veggies like broad beans, peas and salad leaves like mizuna and butterhead lettuce. You can also plant flowers like lilies, marigolds and rudbeckia, so they’re ready to bloom in summer. Early spring is a good time to divide snowdrops, hellebores and hostas. This will help fill out your borders for free. To help plants along and minimise weed growth, it’s worth mulching your beds. It’s also wise to pop in supports for plants as it’s much easier to do this now than after they start growing.
Spring clean the pond
The pond is another area of the garden that’s worth some attention. Clear away leaves and other vegetation from the bottom of the pond with a net or pond vacuum and scoop out blanket weed and other undesirable growth from the pond surface using a net, garden cane or rake. If you have a filter and pump system, give it a clean to ensure it performs effectively over the summer.
Spruce up the garden furniture
If the weather is on your side, it might be an idea to uncover your garden furniture or bring it out of storage so you can give it a bit of a spruce-up before summer hits. Plastic furniture can be washed down with warm soapy water, while wooden furniture is best brushed off and repainted or stained if necessary.
Show the lawn some love
Lawns may need a bit of reviving after winter, so rake out moss and dead plant matter before aerating it if it’s still a bit waterlogged. If there are bare patches, scatter over some lawn seed and apply a nitrogen-based feed if you think your lawn needs a helping hand to get growing. Should your lawn still look a bit scruffy, tidy up the perimeter with an edging tool or spade.
Scrub the BBQ clean
As the weather warms up, it’s worth digging out the barbeque so you can check it over and give it a clean. Inspecting it now for signs of rust and damage will give you time to source replacement parts. If you cleaned it before putting it away, your barbeque may just need a wipe over. But if you put it away without cleaning it properly, you might need to light it first, to burn off the old food residues. Once this is done, let it cool and grab your wire brush to scrub off the remaining dirt.
