We often spend most of our time caring for the inside of our homes. We clean and decorate to make it look nice. However, outdoor spaces are also a significant part of our homes. It’s important to provide the outside of our home with the same amount of care, if not more.
For those with less experience caring for their outdoor space, the process can seem a bit involved. If you are an experienced homeowner wanting to take better care of your outdoor space, or an aspiring homeowner who dreams of your own space, read ahead as we share some tips on outdoor spaces maintenance.
Climate Control
Living in Fresno, you can expect some incredibly hot days and occasionally a cold one. To help combat the sweltering heat or the bitter cold, you should implement some climate control features into your outdoor space. If you have a patio or deck space, this could just mean installing an overhead fan.
For winter months, if you are still interested in hosting outside, you could purchase a space heater or fire pit intended for patio use. Installing a fire pit can go a long way towards keeping your outdoor space comfortable.
Even just intelligently installing trees and other greenery for shading can contribute to climate control and dealing with harsh weather. Although in this case, you may then have to deal with added labor due to keeping your space clear of leaves, pollen, and other plant matter.
Lawn Care
One of the most significant aspects of your outdoor space is its lawn. A great-looking lawn can massively enhance the appeal of a landscape. Similarly, an unkempt lawn can harm the appeal of an outdoor area.
When considering care for your outdoor space, you should think about what you are comfortable caring for, and what will best suit your needs. Artificial lawns and turf are certainly seeing more use, but many people prefer the look and feel of natural grass and enjoy the work involved with maintaining it. On the other hand, some people are allergic to grass or cannot reliably maintain it in their area.
It’s important to know about natural grass and turf, so you can understand the reality of installing and caring for both.
Natural Grass
Natural Grass has a positive environmental benefit due to being a plant that can absorb carbon dioxide and provide the other usual benefits with greenery. Some say that the environmental benefits aren’t worth the upkeep and maintenance. This is especially true in an incredibly hot area like Fresno, keeping grass watered and thriving can become quite costly in terms of supplies.
You also need to properly maintain the grass by mowing it. Some people are eager to cut grass very short to maximize the time between mowing but cutting grass too short can cause it to burn and dry out in intense heat. So more regular decisive trims are encouraged.
Artificial Turf
Artificial turf doesn’t provide the environmental benefits of real greenery. However, the artificial turn has much less cost associated with watering due to it being artificial. Some people feel this makes up for losing the environmental benefits.
You also get to choose the appearance of turf upfront, so maintenance associated with trimming for appearance is not involved.
Whichever lawn choice you feel is right for you, make sure you consider the reality of weather in Fresno and are ready with an environmentally sensible plan to care for it.
Plant Life
Decks, patios, and well-paved surfaces can add a lot of appeal to an outdoor space. But one feature that probably brings the most out of outdoor space is plant life. You have to pick the right plants to dot around your outdoor space, or perhaps even devote a full garden area too, depending on the maintenance level you prefer.
Perennial plants are great to implement in your space. They require a bit of investment upfront but keep flowering year after year. With Fresno’s often incredibly hot climate, you will have to be very decisive when choosing the right plants. Dave’s Garden offers information on plants that are said to grow well in Fresno.
If you choose trees to provide shade or just accent your outdoor space, it is best to purchase mature trees and find a great space for them. Then, you can keep them trimmed and maintained. Buying mature trees is also good if you are unsure about how long you will remain in your house, or if you are worried about raising saplings.
Inspect, Clean, and Maintain Wood Features
Wood features like expansive decks and furniture can be beautiful additions to an outdoor space. However, they will require consistent upkeep to combat the elements.
Pollen, mold, and other factors can begin to accumulate on your wooden surfaces. It is always a good idea to power wash them and look for areas lightened by the sun or that need some resealing. Repainting and resealing efforts can be good to implement now and then, to keep your wood features looking their best.
You should also try to look for wood rot and other signs of urgent repairs. The earlier you catch any faults the less expensive it will be to fix them.
Care for outdoor furniture and appliances
Outdoor spaces are great for entertaining guests or just being a natural extension of your indoor space. So, it is understandable that your outdoor space features many amenities that make the inside of your home so cozy and inviting. Tables and chairs for hosting gatherings, and perhaps a grill and other food prep space are common features in outdoor spaces.
Ideally, your outdoor space features furniture that was built with the outdoors in mind. If so, things like chairs and tables will have durable materials. It is still a good idea to purchase covers to help your furniture last longer and fight the elements. When it is time to break them out, you can simply dust off your furniture, lightly clean it with some soap and water, let it dry in the sun, and it should be ready for use.
Food Prep Areas
If your outdoor space features food prep areas with counter space, sinks, and grills, you should pay extra attention to keep these clean and maintained. Ideally, you keep the kitchen inside of your house clean to avoid mold and insects/other pests. You should even look to increase this standard outside.
Pest Control
If you have an outdoor space, then you are also sharing it with other animals. It is in your best interest if you can maintain a safe relationship with each other. Using environmentally friendly pest control methods can help keep animals from entering your home or outdoor space.
Certain plants can be a natural deterrent to some animals, and some essential oils also work similarly. Lavender, lemongrass, mint, and others are commonly used. Find what works best for you and your local animals.
Conclusion
The area of your home can extend beyond the inside of the walls of your house. Outdoor spaces are often a natural extension of the indoor space and can see as much use as the inside. To maintain your outdoor spaces, keep in mind your lawn, plant, and outdoor appliance needs. For some tips and information on life in Fresno, consider checking out the rest of our blog!
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