30 Outdoor Updates to Tackle This Spring

Fall and winter can do a number on your home's exterior, leaving it with lackluster curb appeal come spring and summer. Beyond the visual effect, your home can quickly slide into disrepair without proactive seasonal maintenance. Set your home up for summer success with these 30 outdoor updates to tackle this spring and early summer.

Examine roof shingles to see if any were lost or damaged during winter, recommends Dwight Barnett, a certified master inspector with the American Society of Home Inspectors. If your home has an older roof covering, you may want to start a budget for replacement. The summer sun can really damage roof shingles. Shingles that are cracked, buckled or loose or are missing granules need to be replaced. Flashing around plumbing vents, skylights and chimneys need to be checked and repaired by a qualified roofer. Download a spring home maintenance checklist.

Painted exterior wood details can be deceiving, hiding water and termite damage beneath the paint. To uncover hidden damage, use a screwdriver to probe the wood trim around windows, doors, railings and decks. Make repairs now before the spring rains do more damage to the exposed wood.

If any of your trim or siding has begun to rot or crumble, replace and repaint it. Repainting siding or trim is often more than a one-weekend project. For color consistency, you can’t just touch it up — instead, you'll need to paint a whole section.

If your home is in close proximity to trees, you should clean your gutters often. While everyone knows fall leaves can clog gutters, they can also be clogged by spring buds and other residue shedding from budding deciduous trees. Failing to clean them can divert water into your home's ceiling, walls and windows.

While you're cleaning them, be sure to check for loose or leaky gutters. Improper drainage can lead to water in the basement or crawl space. Make sure downspouts drain away from the foundation and are clear and free of debris. Consider installing gutter screens or protectors to help keep debris out of the gutters.

Low areas in the yard or next to the foundation should be filled with compacted soil. Spring rains can cause yard flooding, which can lead to foundation flooding and damage. Also, when water pools in these low areas in summer, it creates a breeding ground for insects.

Whether you prefer to plant annuals every spring or let your perennials do their thing, there's a good chance your flower beds need some extra attention coming out of winter. Remove weeds and debris, then fill in the bare spots with ground cover, flowers and shrubs.

Protect your precious plants this summer by mulching around them in the spring. A fresh layer of mulch will help lock in moisture, control erosion, deter weed growth and more. Plus, it makes those summer blooms even more vibrant.

When mulching your landscaping, avoid putting mulch around your home's perimeter, as it can attract insects and hold moisture against your home. Opt instead for a border of gravel, river rock or other hardscape. Rock helps to encourage water drainage and makes it easy to identify the presence of insects.

Too much mulch can be harmful. The Morton Arboretum says that excessive mulch mounded around the base of a tree can cause decay of the vital tissue at the root collar. When decay occurs, serious disease organisms may more readily enter the plant. When mulching around a tree, always remove old mulch and use new mulch sparingly keeping it away from the tree itself.

Most trees and shrubs respond best to pruning in the spring rather than the fall, as this can help the plant recover quickly, which protects it from fungi and decay.

Give your lawn the nutrients it needs to grow thick and green by fertilizing in the spring and early summer. Different lawn feeding products have different guidelines for application time, so pay special attention to the manufacturer's instructions before applying fertilizer to your lawn.

Chimneys are a notorious spot for water to leak into your home. Take time to inspect the area surrounding the chimney to ensure all seals, flashing and other roofing components are in good shape and installed correctly to shed water. If you have a functional fireplace, have the flue cleaned and inspected by a certified chimney sweep.

Check your attic for proper ventilation and birds’ nests. Look for obstructions over vents, damaged soffit panels, roof flashing leaks and wet spots on insulation. Keeping a good airflow will save you when it comes to cooling costs.

Pro Tip: When you’re rooting around, wear long sleeves and gloves to protect yourself from insulation.

If you like instant gratification, pressure washing will be your new favorite hobby. Seriously — a few minutes of pressure washing can remove years of dirt and grime from your patio and walkways. Just be sure to start with the lowest pressure and work your way up as necessary to avoid damaging the surface.

Once the concrete is clean, inspect slabs for signs of cracks or movement, as these issues are much easier (and cheaper) to remedy if caught early. All exterior slabs except pool decks should drain away from the home's foundation. Fill cracks with a concrete crack filler or silicone caulk.

Spalling is a chipping or popping away of a brick’s face, leaving the brick’s interior susceptible to moisture and crumbling. Look for this and any deteriorated mortar that typically occurs on older homes. If your brick is plagued with efflorescence, those unsightly white deposits caused by soluble salts left behind during water evaporation, the Brick Industry Association recommends dry brushing in warm, dry weather to remove it. If you discover water penetration in brick, consider sealing the brick with an appropriate sealant.

Remove firewood stored near the home, as it can attract termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees and other pests. Firewood should be stored at least 18 inches off the ground at least two feet from the structure.

Check outside hose faucets for freeze damage. Turn the water on and place your thumb or finger over the opening. If you can stop the flow of water, it is likely the pipe inside the home is damaged and will need to be replaced. While you're at it, check the garden hose for dry rot.

Inspect and, if necessary, caulk around your home's windows and doors annually. That will help keep out heat and humidity in the summer and cold drafts in the winter—and save money on your utility bills all year round. Open and close all windows as well. Do they all open easily, yet close tightly? If not, check the weather stripping. There are a number of different types to consider.

To fix a small hole in a window or door screen, dab clear household cement over the hole with a toothpick. If the screens are plastic, test the cement on a scrap to make sure it won't melt the material. Use the same technique to repair screen tears. Pull the two halves of the tear together and hold them in place with masking tape on one side. Apply the household cement to the tear, then smooth with a putty knife. When it's dry, gently remove the tape and apply cement to the other side.

Have a qualified heating and cooling contractor clean and service the outside unit of the air conditioning system. Clean coils operate more efficiently, and an annual service call will keep the system working at peak performance levels. Change interior filters on a regular basis.

Check your lawn equipment early to ensure it's ready for summer use before it's too late. Small-engine repair shops will quickly become busy and you don't want to be without your lawn equipment when the growing season begins. Clean equipment and sharpened cutting blades will make yardwork easier.

Clean outdoor furniture and cushions to remove grit and grime that has accumulated over the last year. When applicable, treat fabrics with UV-protectant and waterproofing spray.

Regularly sealing concrete and blacktop driveways is crucial to extending their lifespan. Trust us, it's better to do it now than when the unrelenting summer heat wave comes.

Just like driveways, decks require frequent resealing to keep them looking and performing their best. Save yourself some hassle and choose a one-step product that combines stain and sealer. Mitch Kalamian, owner of Solena Landscape Co., recommends Behr’s All-in-One Wood Finish for a good-looking, durable final product.

For ultra-dingy decks, pressure wash away the gunk before sealing for the best results. Pressure-wash your deck with a tip that produces a spray about the width of a two-by-four with medium pressure. The trick is to keep the spray moving. Don't rest in one spot for too long or it could permanently damage the surface.

While you have the pressure washer out, head over to your fence. Slimy mold, moss, algae and mildew are common issues that are easily cleaned up with a pressure washer. For stubborn areas, consider pre-treating with a solution formulated for this type of dirt and grime.

Has your septic tank been acting up? Spring and summer are ideal times for septic tank repair, as the ground is consistently hard enough to traverse with heavy machinery.