Landscaping is one of the most noticeable factors contributing to Curb Appeal. Curb Appeal can help you attract the right tenants, keep Home Owner’s associations and neighbors happy, and increase the property’s value.
Now is the best time to start working on your landscaping so that when spring finally arrives, your yard will look beautiful! Don’t let the patches of snow and brown grass fool you, there’s plenty that you can do now to help your yard look great when things start growing again.
Get a head start on the weeds.
In warm climates weeds actually start to germinate in February. Luckily for Alaskans, we have a little extra time. Apply a pre-emergent spray to your lawn now to prevent those weeds from beginning their germination. When everything starts to grow in a few weeks, apply another round of weed control and a slow release fertilizer to the lawn. This will keep dandelions at bay and give your growing grass the nutrients it needs to grow strong and healthy.
Keep the bugs off.
Apply insecticides in gentle doses. If you start applying small amounts of insecticide to the lawn now, and continue doing so throughout the year then you keep the bugs from reproducing but you won’t hurt your grass, trees, and flowers.
Prune now to look pretty later.
Pruning your trees now is ideal because they’re not fully awake yet and the process will be less stressful for them. Fungal diseases aren’t active yet either so there’s less risk that your tree will be affected by one after pruning. Keep in mind that even if branches don’t look saggy now, new buds or growth might be the tipping point for them to begin sagging. Check trees and shrubs that are growing near the home and cut back limbs that might be obstructing windows, walkways, or utility meters.
Pick up the litter.
Now’s the time to pick up any trash that got blown onto the lawn throughout the winter. Winter or wind damaged plants or shrubs should be removed as well. Don’t forget about any animal waste! Picking it up before it thaws will save your nose a lot of discomfort.
Test your sprinklers and hoses.
This one should probably wait until later in the year, after we’ve had our final freeze. You should do this about the same time that you apply that second round of weed killer and fertilizer. Turn on the water and run your hoses for a short while. Take the sprinklers for a test run as well. This will help to identify any leaks that might have developed due to temperature changes. If you spot problems early you’ll be able to take the proper amount of time to repair or replace the damaged items.
You want to attract the best tenants to occupy your properties, and having an attractive exterior will help you. If you need more help finding the right tenants, or finding the time for the proper maintenance, we can help you!
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