KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN TIPS – SPRING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER

KATHY’S HOME & GARDEN TIPS – SPRING IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER

Spring is not too far away here in the Chicago area. These last few days have been most welcome after the several feet of snow and bone chilling cold we have had this winter. It’s a good idea to check around the house for any winter damage before spring rains come.

Check those gutters and downspouts. One of our downspout connections was apart and all the melting snow water was pouring back towards the house. It was buried in snow before. You always want to be sure water is diverted away from the house.

Look around the outside of the house for any areas around doors and windows that might need a little caulk.

Spruce up the yard. Look for any damage on trees and bushes. Hopefully you have been diligent keeping the snow off them and damage will be minimal. Trim off any broken or dead branches.

Now is a great time to seed the lawn. Do a light rake first getting up all the old leaves and debris. The seed will lay dormant until it gets warm enough to germinate. The spring rains will give it plenty of moisture.

Make sure any drains are clear near the house. The drain by the basement is especially important. Without a clear drain the water will end up in the basement.

KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN’S TEAM CHICAGO