More than once in my 39 years I’ve been told that I’m just not like the other girls. I spent hours climbing trees and tromping through the woods. I fan girl out and would rather catch a superhero flick than a romantic comedy any day. I grew up playing on the boys’ basketball and baseball teams in elementary school. I rock two fantasy football leagues every year and faithfully fill out a March Madness bracket. But perhaps what mystifies some of my girlfriends most of all, I have a love love relationship with my push mower. There is nothing like the first sweet cut of the season, where I get to perfectly line up the wheels, trimming the yard to an even alignment of grass blades. Some ladies love to knit, some have a passion for scrapbooking – I give props to them all because whatever your passion, lean into it and love it. It just so happens that my slightly odd hobby involves popping on my headphones and circling my front yard, making my lawn obey.
Perhaps the practice of mowing is more of a necessary evil for you than a pleasurable experience. Regardless of your point of view, you can always save money when it comes to sprucing up your curb appeal.
Begin With the Clean Up
The temptation to immediately buy out the nearest home improvement store intensifies in the spring. Instead of acquiring a plethora of plants, furniture, and décor begin first with picking up sticks and leaves, cleaning up the winter’s handiwork. Don’t buy the plants before first clearing out the flowerbeds. Don’t bring home the mulch until you prepare the grounds. Cleaning up your outdoor space and reacquainting yourself with your lawn tools will help you realize what you already have and prevent duplicate purchases.
Regular Maintenance is Key
Before the first cut of the season, you serve yourself (and your mower) well to have it serviced. Sharpening the blades and tuning the engine will not only guarantee your lawn equipment runs well all season long, but also allows for better fuel efficiency, lowering your overall costs. If you’re not sure where to go, head to your social media channels to ask friends and neighbors where they’ve found great customer service and quality work. Ask about discounts or potential coupons when you schedule your appointment. But don’t skip this essential step. Your lawn and mowers will thank you and have an extended life to boot.
Spruce Up the Furniture You Own
After the snow and ice of December and January, your outdoor furniture may be long overdue some TLC. Don’t just drag what you own to the curb and buy all new. A little bit of care and spray paint can give those pieces you already have a second life. Begin by scrubbing down everything with a mild detergent and warm water. If plastic pieces have developed a cloudy, dark film, try using a Magic Eraser to remove spots. To revive metal tables and chairs, sand off any rusty spots with sandpaper or an electric sander. Then invest in some spray paint of your favorite color. For a fraction of the price, you create a complete new look, customized to your preference
Make the Most of Mulch
Once you complete your yard basics, you might be ready to add mulch to spruce up your yard. Some municipalities actually take the limbs collected through its removal service and turn it into mulch available to those who live within the city limits. Check out your city’s website for specifics about locations, which months mulch is available for pickup, and the requirements (you’ll probably need a recent sanitation bill to prove residency). This decorative mulch is great to ring trees or enhance landscaping. If you’re looking to improve the health and appearance of your flowers or gardens, consider starting an open-air compost bin to create your own mulch. Simply add vegetable peelings, egg shells, coffee grounds, green clippings from your lawn, dead leaves, and even cardboard and newspaper – the more diverse, the better. Just don’t add any dairy products or meat to the mix. You’ll occasionally want to stir your pile. It may be the end of the season before you see any results; however, the longer you compost, the more you’ll be hooked on using your own trash to create garden treasure.
My favorite time of the year has arrived – mowing season. Your yard can be the envy of the block without emptying your piggy bank. Make the most of what you have, adding a few tweaks and your lawn will shine.
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