Chicago Home and Lifestyles – 4 ways to prep for spring weather

Even though the calendar says it’s spring, the weather around the Chicago area is saying: “Not so fast!” Last week we went from 70+ degrees to facing a couple inches of snow. Daytime temps do rise a bit during the day, but at night it’s rarely above 40. So it may be a little early around here to do much, but it’s the perfect time to get a head start. Here are a few things you can do:

Clean up a little bit around the yard. Do a little maintenance, but don’t disturb any leaves or other plant debris around bushes, trees, or in the garden. Pollinators use this material and you need to wait until temperatures are over 50 degrees for at least a week. This gives them time to hatch. It’s fine to clean up leaves on your lawn. We use a leaf blower to blow all the winter debris to one side then scoop it up. The grass now is a tad fragile and it’s usually muddy, so it is better not to rake too vigorously. If you don’t have a leaf blower you can rake gently. Then, apply pre-emergent fertilizer to the lawn. This will prevent crabgrass and other weeds from taking hold. This pre-emergent also prevents grass seed from germinating, so wait until May to over seed.  

Check all the drains. Check around the outside of the house to make sure they are clean. This includes natural gutters that divert rain away from your property. Spring rain is coming, and clogged drains can seep in your basement or worse, damage your foundation. You will need to check these drains weekly as the rain will wash any winter debris right down to the drains. See that gutters and downspouts are clean and flowing. Watch when it rains. You’ll see water coming out the downspouts and may even see some debris flowing out. Look all around the foundation of your home. Make sure all the water flows away from the foundation. 

Check your roof. Check around your roof for loose shingles or flashing. Binoculars work great. It’s best to stay on the ground and leave the ladders to the professionals. Even if you don’t notice any problems it can’t hurt to have your roof checked over by a professional. Best to do it early before they get busy. 

Prep that lawn mower. Start it up and make sure it’s running well. Look online how to get your mower ready for the season. Most lawn mower prep can be done by you, but if you’re not too handy it’s best to take it in. Again, doing it early means you’ll get it back quickly. 

Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago