Fall in central Arizona is like Spring cleaning season anywhere else, it’s when we finally breath and refresh, get out in the yard and plant new things, spruce everything up after a long summer of avoiding the outdoors. October is the first of our eight months of perfect weather.
We do still check the heating system on the off-chance we might use it, and there are a few fall leaves to blow off the grass, but in general fall maintenance here isn’t so much prep as it is polish… checking bushes for monsoon damage and sunburn, spraying weeds, over-seeding the lawn and dressing up the yard for cook-outs and cool evenings around the firepit.
Still, there are tasks that everyone should complete in the fall and below you’ll find the first of several checklists for Fall home care. Seasonal home maintenance done right invariably saves money, time and aggravation later on.
Your Fall Home-Prep Checklist – Part 1
By John Voket
While a good ‘spring clean’ is important, the coming of autumn also signals the need to do some important chores around the home and yard. Below are three seasonal suggestions from a wealth of experts.
Sweep The Chimney. Robby Martin at southernliving.com says it’s the time of year to start shopping for a chimney cleaner, ahead of the winter rush. Martin says unless you are well versed in chimney construction, contact a reputable chimney sweep service.
Items such as bird or animal nests built during the summer, as well as excessive soot deposits from the previous winter, can easily obstruct flues and dampers, increasing the chances of chimney fires. Regular maintenance can save you from possible misfortune for a relatively small price.
Clean and Purge. Kit Arbuckle – a source at care.com suggests that before you start your fall and holiday entertaining, deep clean your fridge, freezer, and pantry. Arbuckle says it’s a perfect opportunity to throw out expired items and scrub everything.
And if you have soon-to-expire items or food you bought for a specific recipe and never used, pack up a box and drop it at your local food pantry. Arbuckle says while you’re at it, rent or break out the carpet cleaner and run it on all your rugs; wherever possible, start by cleaning the floor under your rugs.
Tend to Landscaping. Colonel Landscaping (colonellandscaping.com) along the shoreline in Connecticut tells clients fall is the most opportune time to tend their landscapes so they thrive the following year.
Colonel explains that a late season application of lawn fertilizer, particularly in areas where cold weather grasses dominate, can nourish the root system and prepare it for the spring growing season; a soil test will help ensure proper amounts of nutrients are being applied.
Fall is also a great time to reseed lawn that is exhibiting signs of distress. Homeowners from southern New England to the central Atlantic coastal states will want to sow before the end of September for optimal results — applying a quarter-inch of topsoil will help ensure germination.
Reprinted with permission from RISMedia. ©2018. All rights reserved.
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Bill Salvatore / Arizona Elite Properties
Residential Sales, Marketing, and Property Management
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