Your “green” spring to-do list!

From the spring peepers calling to the daffodils in bloom, the earliest signs of the spring are all around us!

With spring right around the corner, it’s time to think about prepping your home and garden for the warming weather. Follow these quick tips to save you money, time, and some headaches, this year.

Around the home

• Check outdoor lighting and replace with LEDs as necessary. Consider solar lighting for walkways
• Make sure air conditioner filters are clean and properly maintained (better yet, install ceiling fans to help reduce the need for AC).
• Test your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector batteries. Consider testing for radon too, if you haven’t performed a test in awhile.

By maintaining your air conditioner filters, you allow it to run more efficiently, save energy and improve air quality.

In your yard or garden

• Check to make sure your rain barrel is functioning properly and reconnect it.  Check on the status of other RainScapes.
• Pick up a yard trim compost bin
• Clean your gutters and downspouts, and make sure they direct rainwater to a natural area where the water can be absorbed, as much as possible, before running off your property
• Do a sweep around the property for areas that could hold standing water – i.e. mosquito breeding grounds.
• Drill holes in tire swings, plastic containers and the drainage basin for planters, so that water drains out.

Garden maintenance

• Cut back your gardens to get ready for spring/summer.  The best time is NOW!
• Prepare your garden, or an outdoor area suitable for potted plants, for the planting of fresh vegetables and herbs
• Weed out the cool season/winter weeds and re-mulch as necessary.
• Add some native pollinator support with native plants like bee balm, milkweed and Penstemon

For your lawn

• Renovate your lawn – aerate and topdress with compost before reseeding.
• Tune up your lawnmower to make sure it is running efficiently and make sure the blade is sharp.
• Buy an electric lawnmower – reduce emissions! Consider investing in a robot mower, and save time and energy.

Don’t forget your trees

• Replace the mulch around your trees to help the tree retain moisture.  Remember to follow proper mulching techniques. 

Keeping mulch away from the trunk helps prevent disease and rot.

Spring is the season to learn, or do, something new!