Just like nature, your home flows with the seasons. Each season has a unique set of tasks that help keep things looking and working their best. Planning routine home maintenance tasks for the right time of year is the smartest way to stay on top of things and still leave time for the things you want to do. This second installment looks at the chores of summer.
Outdoors
Oh, the sweetnessof the wet garden
Summer heat may be great for splashing in the pool or trips to the beach, but it can do a number on your garden. Your plants need lots of water during those hot summer days.
It’s a good practice to water early in the day so the heat doesn’t evaporate the water before it soaks into your thirsty plants. Don’t get carried away; you don’t want to drown your foliage. It’s better to give your plants a hearty soaking three times a week, rather than a light watering every day. This will keep your green friends hydrated and happy. Your yard and landscape There’s nothing like a bright, green lawn to give your home curb appeal and make your neighbors happy. How often should you cut it? In the height of summer growing season it’s better to cut it more frequently in smaller increments than to wait until it’s really high and giving it a severe hacking.
Common wisdom dictates taking no more than one third of the height of the grass blade at a single mowing. That means set your mower at the highest setting to keep your lawn healthy and strong. So a weekly schedule in the height of summer growing season is a sure bet to keep roots healthy, maximize sun exposure, and discourage the kinds of lawn pests that thrive in overgrown grass. While you’re out there, check out your flower beds. Deadhead the flowers that have begun to shrivel up. Not only will that keep your beds orderly and tidy, but it encourages additional growth and blossoms, too.
Your yard and landscape
There’s nothing like a bright, green lawn to give your home curb appeal and make your neighbors happy. How often should you cut it? In the height of summer growing season it’s better to cut it more frequently in smaller increments than to wait until it’s really high and giving it a severe hacking.
Common wisdom dictates taking no more than one third of the height of the grass blade at a single mowing. That means set your mower at the highest setting to keep your lawn healthy and strong. So a weekly schedule in the height of summer growing season is a sure bet to keep roots healthy, maximize sun exposure, and discourage the kinds of lawn pests that thrive in overgrown grass. While you’re out there, check out your flower beds. Deadhead the flowers that have begun to shrivel up. Not only will that keep your beds orderly and tidy, but it encourages additional growth and blossoms, too.
A sprinkling of home-made rain
Unless the summer is a rainy one, chances are good you will need to water your lawn regularly. Do you have sprinklers? Make sure they’re in good working order. Take a stroll around the yard and make sure the sprinkler heads are all standing at attention. Then take another walk around and ensure that all of the sprinklers are working, and that they’re not blocked by overgrown foliage. Replace any that aren’t working, or call a plumber to do it if you’re not handy with tools. Set the timers and take note if they are still working. How often? Like your garden, your grass appreciates a few good soakings each week, rather than a little bit every day.
Stay cool in the pool
A clean pool is a happy pool. Keep a skimming net handy to remove leaves and debris from the water. Keep algae in check with twice-monthly side scrubbing. Keep the filter basket clean and check your chemical levels at least weekly. Keep your pool area safe with child-resistant gates. Always keep those gates closed, even if you don’t have children. A closed gate will help to keep the neighbors’ kids safe.
Keeping up the façade
Summer is a great time to paint your house or stain your deck. The warm temperatures will help the finishes dry quickly.
Indoors
A positive spin
Which way should your ceiling fans be spinning during the warm months? The correct answer is counterclockwise, which pushes the air down from the ceiling, creating a cooling breeze. Most fans have a button that lets you set the spin direction. Keep them counterclockwise in the warmer months and clockwise in the cooler months.
Keep a lean, clean air machine
If you’re running your A/C a lot during the warm summer months, check the filters monthly, and clean or replace them if needed. Dirty filters make your system work harder, costing you more money and possibly shortening the life of the system. So be sure to keep those filters clean.
Something bugging you?
You’re not alone in your love of warm weather. Insects and other pests love it, too, and they might just fancy your home. Ants, carpenter bees, termites, mice, and even bats might decide to call your house their home. The best defense is a good offense. Seal up holes and cracks where mice and insects can get inside. Keep your kitchen counters clean and free of crumbs and food residue.
Ant infestations can be treated with bait traps and spray, but termites are more serious and require the aid of professional exterminators. If mice or roaches are a continuing problem, you might want to consider an annual contract with a pest control company. However, this will expose you to chemicals. If you are sensitive, ask the company about natural alternatives. It’s a good idea to look up in your attic every few weeks to make sure nothing has taken up residence there.
Common attic residents may include mice, raccoons, or bats. If you find these, ask a professional to take care of it. Attics are cramped, dangerous places. You don’t want to end up falling through the ceiling.
Think ahead
Plan now for fall and winter home improvement projects. The contractors are up to their ears in work during the summer. If you want to book them for such items as bathroom or kitchen renovations, get on their fall or winter schedules.
As you can see, the home tasks for summer aren’t so overwhelming. There’s plenty of time to gather friends around the pool and toss a few steaks on the barbie! Next month, in part 3, we’ll explore the home tasks of autumn.
Call Peter Young Home Inspections
Buying or selling a home? Never sign any contract without first getting a home inspection! Call Asheville Home Inspector Peter Young, 828-808-4980, or click the link below to make an appointment today.
