Pre-Summer Backyard Blitz: Week 1 – The Big Clean-Up
Get the outside areas of your home ready for summer with this handy 11-point checklist
While we’ve been cocooned inside during the cooler months, the outside zones have been getting weathered, dirty and a little bit neglected. Now that the warmer weather has arrived, the time has come for a big spring clean to reinvigorate the exterior of your home. Whether you and the family plan to enjoy a barbecue, swim in the pool, laze on the deck or play in the yard, come summer, it’s all the more pleasant when the outside areas look clean, inviting and ready for action.
2. Wash windows
It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking over the ocean or looking out at the yard, ensure you can enjoy the view by washing windows, sliding doors and glass pool fences. This job is easy to do and is very satisfying. Just put a little detergent in a bucket of warm water and use a soft rag to wash the glass. Squeegees with a rubber edge are available at hardware stores and are the best way to clean the glass. Use a side-to-side motion to remove the detergent and a dry rag to wipe the spill at the bottom of the window.
How to clean glass
It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking over the ocean or looking out at the yard, ensure you can enjoy the view by washing windows, sliding doors and glass pool fences. This job is easy to do and is very satisfying. Just put a little detergent in a bucket of warm water and use a soft rag to wash the glass. Squeegees with a rubber edge are available at hardware stores and are the best way to clean the glass. Use a side-to-side motion to remove the detergent and a dry rag to wipe the spill at the bottom of the window.
How to clean glass
3. Clean screens
To wash flyscreens, remove them from the window, and use a soft bristled brush and a hose. Leave in the sun to dry before reattaching to the windows.
To wash flyscreens, remove them from the window, and use a soft bristled brush and a hose. Leave in the sun to dry before reattaching to the windows.
4. Oil the deck
Timber decks will naturally start to turn grey over time due to the effects of sun, rain and wind. To keep your deck looking rich and warm, it needs to be oiled fairly regularly. Start by cleaning, scrubbing and lightly sanding the timber. Ensure it’s completely dry then apply oil evenly along the grain with a brush. Allow at least four hours to dry (24 hours is better!) then give a second coat.
Timber decks will naturally start to turn grey over time due to the effects of sun, rain and wind. To keep your deck looking rich and warm, it needs to be oiled fairly regularly. Start by cleaning, scrubbing and lightly sanding the timber. Ensure it’s completely dry then apply oil evenly along the grain with a brush. Allow at least four hours to dry (24 hours is better!) then give a second coat.
5. Improve your lawn
Spring is a great time to revitalise your lawn; it’s not too hot, there’s still plenty of rain and it’s pleasant weather for working out in the garden. Give grass a cut with the mower and take the opportunity to fertilise and sow seeds on any balding patches of lawn.
How to keep a green lawn
Spring is a great time to revitalise your lawn; it’s not too hot, there’s still plenty of rain and it’s pleasant weather for working out in the garden. Give grass a cut with the mower and take the opportunity to fertilise and sow seeds on any balding patches of lawn.
How to keep a green lawn
If you’re after the ultimate low-maintenance lawn, you might consider the new ranges of synthetic grass. They look very realistic and there is no maintenance beyond raking up a few leaves. If the grass begins to look a little dirty after a long rainy winter, a quick once-over with a Gerni gun (a type of high-pressure cleaner) will make it look like new.
6. Power-wash the pavers
Over winter, pavers can start to look decidedly unclean. Rain, dirt and mould can turn beautiful surfaces black and splotchy, particularly those pavers around the pool. Fire up the Gerni gun to refresh the brickwork and make them look like new. It’s also a good opportunity to remove weeds from between the paver stones. You can get on your knees and pull them out old school or just spray on a weed killer that contains glycophosphate.
Over winter, pavers can start to look decidedly unclean. Rain, dirt and mould can turn beautiful surfaces black and splotchy, particularly those pavers around the pool. Fire up the Gerni gun to refresh the brickwork and make them look like new. It’s also a good opportunity to remove weeds from between the paver stones. You can get on your knees and pull them out old school or just spray on a weed killer that contains glycophosphate.
7. Prune plants and trees
With summer just around the corner, the garden is about to start growing, sprouting and flowering. Early spring is a great time to prune, when plants have yet to begin their growth cycle. It allows you to see the shape of the garden and trim accordingly. It’s also a great time to remove any dead growth, attack the weeds and trim the hedges.
Things to do in the garden in September
With summer just around the corner, the garden is about to start growing, sprouting and flowering. Early spring is a great time to prune, when plants have yet to begin their growth cycle. It allows you to see the shape of the garden and trim accordingly. It’s also a great time to remove any dead growth, attack the weeds and trim the hedges.
Things to do in the garden in September
8. Provide adequate shade
As the cold weather starts to become a memory and you look forward to long, hot days, it’s easy to forget how brutal the summer sun can be. Shade – whether it be umbrellas, screens, sails, or canopies – is essential during the hottest part of the year. Not only will it allow you to enjoy the outside areas for longer, but it protects skin from harmful UV radiation, too.
As the cold weather starts to become a memory and you look forward to long, hot days, it’s easy to forget how brutal the summer sun can be. Shade – whether it be umbrellas, screens, sails, or canopies – is essential during the hottest part of the year. Not only will it allow you to enjoy the outside areas for longer, but it protects skin from harmful UV radiation, too.
9. Give the shed a spring clean
Over the course of a year, the shed becomes the catch-all for those things you’re not exactly sure whether to keep or throw away. Use the cooler days to empty the shed entirely. Discard the stuff you really don’t need. Neatly restock the shed with the essentials while ensuring there is enough space to easily grab what you need. Return all those socket spanners, whipper-snippers and sets of allen keys that you borrowed months ago from friends and family.
Over the course of a year, the shed becomes the catch-all for those things you’re not exactly sure whether to keep or throw away. Use the cooler days to empty the shed entirely. Discard the stuff you really don’t need. Neatly restock the shed with the essentials while ensuring there is enough space to easily grab what you need. Return all those socket spanners, whipper-snippers and sets of allen keys that you borrowed months ago from friends and family.
10. Check illumination
As you probably haven’t spent much time outside at night during the colder months, it’s a good idea to ensure all exterior lighting is working. Replace dead light globes, make sure the transformers are functioning for all 12-volt lighting and maybe add a little extra illumination. A few strands of fairy lights will make the garden look magical, delighting the kids (and adults!).
Using outdoor lighting
As you probably haven’t spent much time outside at night during the colder months, it’s a good idea to ensure all exterior lighting is working. Replace dead light globes, make sure the transformers are functioning for all 12-volt lighting and maybe add a little extra illumination. A few strands of fairy lights will make the garden look magical, delighting the kids (and adults!).
Using outdoor lighting
11. Clean the gutters
Leaves have been falling all autumn and winter – are your gutters blocked? This is a simple job that can stop guttering overflowing and causing water damage to the structure of your house. As the weather warms, gutters blocked with leaves can also become a fire hazard during bushfire season. While this is a relatively simple job, it can be difficult to reach guttering positioned high off the ground or over balconies. In those cases, it’s sensible to use a professional cleaning service.
TELL US
What’s on your outdoor to-do list? Let us know in the Comments.
MORE
9 Clever Tricks to Save Time on Backyard Chores
8 Ways to Get Your Backyard Ready for Spring
Unsung Spring-Cleaning Jobs You May Not Have Thought of
Leaves have been falling all autumn and winter – are your gutters blocked? This is a simple job that can stop guttering overflowing and causing water damage to the structure of your house. As the weather warms, gutters blocked with leaves can also become a fire hazard during bushfire season. While this is a relatively simple job, it can be difficult to reach guttering positioned high off the ground or over balconies. In those cases, it’s sensible to use a professional cleaning service.
TELL US
What’s on your outdoor to-do list? Let us know in the Comments.
MORE
9 Clever Tricks to Save Time on Backyard Chores
8 Ways to Get Your Backyard Ready for Spring
Unsung Spring-Cleaning Jobs You May Not Have Thought of
It’s easy to ignore, but it might be time to break out the brushes and rollers. Look at the exteriors of your home closely. Has the paint become flaky, dirty or patchy. Nothing brightens the exterior zone like a fresh paint job. It might even be time to update to a new colour palette. Spring is the perfect time to paint when the weather is not too hot and the paint will dry evenly.
Paint colours for Australian homes