This post was originally published on DIY Network’s blog Made + Remade in March 2015.
Spring brings all of the happy things, not just oil pastel rainbows in a craft time collaboration with your kids. It brings those darling crocuses, vegetable garden planning, and landscape recovery, which in and of itself includes everything from removing road salt that was plowed against your front 10-feet of grass, to mulching the beds and collecting all of those fallen twigs and branches in your yard. The driest of the branches, of course, eventually serve as kindling to ignite the first bonfire of the season.
If you’re like me, a home and lifestyle enthusiast trapped in a very cold, snowy state, you’ve probably been itching to get outside and get your hands dirty. Use this time right, and improve your curb appeal while making your home a pretty, well-maintained space.
I’ve got some good ideas for you, so keep reading – and I hope you’ll share your favorite springtime home and lawn care rituals with us in the comments.
- Maintaining your lawn is an obvious first step for getting your backyard into the lush, grassy space that you admire in the summer months. Learn how to manage any type of lawn by checking out everything offered in the Lawn Care section on DIYNetwork.com.
- I already know I’ll be spending a long weekend wrangling broken branches (and possibly clearing away some brush, because it’s easiest to do before the leaves are on the plants). Saws – both a chainsaw and pole saw – are some of my favorite power tools to wield. If you’re getting yours out for the first time in months, give it the quick tune up it deserves by learning tips for maintaining your chainsaw.
- A large fallen tree might not be considered a lucky break, but make the most of it by chopping it up for future firewood, having it planed into useful and resourceful lumber, or make a tree stump table.
- Landscaping isn’t necessarily for everyone – no judging if you can’t stand hacking branches with an axe or mowing the lawn. Creative hardscapes integrating brick, flagstone, rustic timbers, pavers (anything!) are a great outdoor investment for people who love to entertain, suffer allergies from common plants, or simply want an amazing outdoor living space.
- Sometimes I get overwhelmed by the idea of installing a huge patio or hardscape detail, so I can really appreciate seeing how other ordinary backyards can look after a great makeover. Installing a patio or deck or outdoor kitchen can be achieved on a smaller, budget-friendly scale.
- When it comes to accenting your garden space and patio, container gardens are an easy and affordable solution. Watson did a roundup of upcycled container garden ideas that you’ll really enjoy. A big tip to remember is to account for plant growth, because grow they will, and soon enough you’ll be dealing with over-crowding. Nonetheless, a big planter of sunny flowers planted from seed is an easy way to add color and charm to your porch or yard.
- A big landscaping investment comes by way of mulching, so get tips on choosing mulch for landscaping. Between colors, materials, and cost, there are a lot of options on the market, but they all make a big difference in your curb appeal when laid in place of ordinary topsoil surrounding trees and garden beds.
- My vegetable garden ambitions grow each year, when the big harvest happens and I reap the rewards of my labor. On this year’s list: more pumpkins, more squash, and giant beans. Garden maintenance is important, but if our deep freezer that’s still filled with organically-grown veggies is any indication, I find it completely worthwhile.
- Whether you’re looking for a small alcove in which to burn collected dry wood from Get inspired with this tutorial on how to build an outdoor fireplace or install an amazing fire pit to get a gauge on whether you’re up for installing one yourself.
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