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Spring is here, and with it comes a bouquet of seasonal responsibilities. It’s time to clean and repair outdoor elements on your property that winter has battered, like fences and patios. April is the perfect time to spruce up your lawn, get trees and seeds into the ground, and even give your most-used indoor space an impactful refresh.
1. Fix the Fence
Winter can take a toll on the home and yard, and it can be particularly brutal on fences. Now that it’s nice enough to linger outside, walk around your property to check posts, gates, and other fencing elements. Replace a leaning fence post by breaking up the old footing, standing it upright again, and then pouring new concrete into the excavated area. While you’re at it, refresh any tired pickets or other surfaces with a coat of fence paint for a quick boost of curb appeal.
2. Sow Your Seeds
Once the danger of winter frost has passed, April is the time for sowing cool-season vegetable varieties outdoors. Plant your garden in raised beds for optimal drainage, or directly into the yard if your soil is arable. Choose your plants wisely, and opt only for foods you like—no one wants to get stuck with a bumper crop of cabbage the family won’t eat. Don’t have raised beds at your place yet? Build some with the help of DIY raised garden bed plans, or consult our tested guide to the best raised garden beds you can buy.
3. Reseal the Driveway
The secret to a long-lasting asphalt driveway is a routine sealing regimen. Choose a rain-free weekend to work, then spray down and scrub the drive clean. Allow it to dry for a full 24 hours. When it’s dry, pick up a driveway sealer from the hardware store and work it onto the asphalt in 4-foot by 4-foot patches using a squeegee or the back of a push broom. Keep tires (and feet) off the surface for another 24 hours to allow it to set properly.
4. Test Your Lawn’s pH
Before you fertilize or overseed the lawn, you should test your soil pH. (Our tested guide to the best soil test kits list our picks for most accurate, easy-to-use options.) Once have the results in hand, you’ll be able to establish a fertilizing schedule for your lawn.
5. Level Up Your Outdoor Lighting
You may have your outdoor string lights up and ready to go for summer, but there are so many other outdoor lighting ideas that can pull your home’s exterior together. Take a stroll around your property and assess: Do you have any trees or plantings that would benefit from uplighting? Are there areas around the pool or deck where colored lights could set the mood? If your neighborhood is prone to car break-ins, you may also want to spring for motion-sensing lights, too.
Best Decorative Motion-Sensing Sconce
C Cattleya 1-Light Motion Sensor Wall Sconce
More stylish than most motion-sensing lights, C Cattleya’s sconce has a 35-foot range; it can be set for continuous illumination. Read the review.
See It6. Refresh the Bathroom
You don’t need to sink thousands of dollars into a bathroom remodel to breathe new life into the space. Swapping out the shower curtain, medicine cabinet or mirror, cabinet hardware, shower head, and bath mat can make a big difference in how the space looks, for not a lot of money. These low-budget bathroom updates won’t take you more than a few hours to make, but the results could be dramatic.
7. Plant a Tree
April is full of good reasons to plant a tree: There’s Arbor Day and Earth Day, and the climate is just right. Your local nursery or garden center can help you choose an adolescent tree that’s right for your region, or you can become a member of the Arbor Day Foundation and receive 10 seedlings to plant on your property for just $50.
8. Power Wash the Patio and Deck
A year’s worth of grime can age a beautiful deck or patio beyond all recognition, but you can get your outdoor space gleaming again by putting your pressure washer to good use. Spray down wood and concrete surfaces and lift away grime and mold. When the work is done, your space will look almost new again—all for the cost of some pressure washer soap.
Powerful Pressure Washer
Greenworks 3000 PSI Pressure Washer
With a 25-foot hose, foam cannon, and jetflow technology that reaches high spots, it can clean all your deck’s nooks and crannies. Read the review.
See It9. Clean (and Reimagine) the Under-Deck Zone
After you’ve power washed areas of the deck you see, it’s time to attend to the areas you don’t see: Clean the underside of your deck and remove mold and mildew so that you can get a clear view of the ledger board that fastens the deck to the house. Make sure the connection is still sound—this is where most deck failures happen. While you’re down there, brainstorm some under deck ideas for making the most of the unused space. (If the under-deck area isn’t much to look at, consider adding lattice or another type of deck skirting to hide it.)
10. Roll Out a Rain Barrel
The rainy season is great for parched lawns and gardens. Turn April showers into a lasting resource by building or buying a rain barrel in which you can save rainwater. It’s simple to install, and harvesting rainwater will save money on your water bill. Just be sure to check your local ordinances before you get started to make sure that rainwater harvesting is allowed in your area.
