5 Tips for Lawn Care and Snow Removal
As the cold winter weather continues, you will soon find that your lawn is inundated with snow and ice, making it difficult to care for your landscape and maintain your home’s overall appearance. You may be tempted to simply leave the snow where it is (carving out a path to your front door and through your driveway, of course). However, doing so may leave you a much bigger mess to deal with come spring. Instead, care for your lawn and work on removing snow throughout the winter, not only to help reduce the impact on your lawn after the snow melts, but also to increase the appeal your home has to potential buyers (even if you are not currently putting it on the market).
Following these five tips throughout the winter can help you improve your home’s property value, whether you are just moving in, starting a remodel, or putting your house up for sale.
1. Protect Your Plants
Most plants (especially those not specially modified to survive deep frost and snow) cannot survive the winter without help. Therefore, it is important to take steps to protect them so that you don’t have to deal with completely replanting your garden or landscaping in the spring. For example, This Old House recommends driving tall stakes around plant beds near paths and driveways so that you know where to stop shoveling.
Furthermore, it is a good idea to envelop particularly sensitive plants in a protective covering (such as a burlap sack) to keep them warm and shield them from snow. Mulching is also one of the most effective safeguards against frost. Protect plant roots with a thick layer of bark, straw, sawdust, peat moss, leaves or even grass clippings.
2. Plan for Spring
You may not be thinking that far ahead, but flowers and other plants that will bloom in the spring should really be prepared several months in advance. For example, spring-flowering bulbs such as tulips or daffodils should be planted before the first frost of the season to ensure that they survive the rest of the winter and are ready to blossom in spring. That way, you are not greeted by a barren lawn once the snow melts, but instead can experience (and show potential home buyers) a springtime color explosion!
3. Aerate and Dethatch
Keep your lawn as healthy as possible by aerating and dethatching it to improve its ability to absorb water, air and nutrients. Aerating your lawn involves perforating the soil with small holes, which will alleviate soil compaction and help roots grow more deeply. Dethatching removes the buildup of thatch that grows as grass blades and other dead plant pieces accumulate underneath the visible surface of the lawn, and helps new grass shoots grow once the snow melts in the spring.
4. Don't Forget the Front Door
Your front door is often the first thing that people see when it comes to your house (whether they are real estate agents, potential buyers, or just passers-by on the street), after scanning your lawn and patio. During the winter, maintain your front door by wiping away the grime left from rain, snow, and sleet, and consider investing in a more decorative front door if you have a somewhat plain one. RWC provides a number of door services including front entry door replacement.
5. Be Proactive
Taking steps to tackle your snow removal and lawn maintenance before they become an issue will help save you time and keep your home looking the best that it can. For example, use a snow melter (such as a liquid magnesium chloride blend applied with a garden sprayer a few hours before a storm) before snowfall in order to minimize cleanup later, and make sure that your lawn is in peak condition - even when you are not there to maintain it.
Ultimately, the steps you take to care for your lawn (especially deep in the throes of winter) will reflect back on your home’s property values and curb appeal. Whether you are just starting on building your dream home or are looking to put it on the market, staying on top of your lawn care and snow removal will have countless benefits down the road. Our goal at RWC Windows & Doors is to help streamline the renovation and remodel process as much as possible - we have proudly been helping New Jersey homeowners “relieve home improvement stress” since 1959.
We offer a variety of products and services to help you relieve home improvement stress including decorative glass, doors, kitchen and bath renovation, pre-finishing, windows, and the installation that comes with each. Whether you are looking to purchase a new front entry door or upgrade your kitchen design, RWC can help you through every step of the process.
Call us today to speak with one of our friendly and knowledgeable professionals! We've been improving home improvement stress since 1959! Let us help you build your dream home.
Celebrating RWC Renovations in 2015
Clifton, NJ Kitchen Renovation
Although the original dimensions worked as a kitchen, it was obvious that the family needed more space. With an adjacent dining room, we knew the best idea moving forward was to go ahead and knock down that wall! It was time to turn two rooms into one - making it a dining room/kitchen combo that for both aesthetic and practical reasons, made much more sense.
Towaco, NJ Bathroom Renovation
After this bathroom renovation, the room was COMPLETELY transformed. These kinds of projects are our favorite. Since we built a new shower stall, we had to remove the one that already existed on the other side of the room. We replaced it with a makeup station. We’re so proud of the results and glad to have another happy customer. The end results were well-worth the hard work.
West Orange, NJ Bathroom Remodel
The current layout was not conducive to the plans for the finished product, so we changed the layout. Why? To accept a bathtub as well as a shower enclosure. We created a different vanity layout as well. The wall of the vanity is also covered in accent tile.
Mendham, NJ Bathroom Renovation
Remodeling this bathroom was almost a two-in-one job. The adjacent rooms were together yet separate, forming a unique double bathroom - each serving its own purpose - yet one was unable to function as a full bathroom without the other. A fun challenge for the RWC team! Although the layout is quite similar in the end result, the rooms look completely different. Here are several pictures of how the double bathroom looked after pouring our blood sweat and tears into it and we couldn't be happier.
Pompton Plains, NJ Kitchen Remodel
This kitchen renovation in Pompton Plains was a blast - literally. We had to knock out the walls and remove the existing patio doors. By doing this, we could build a wall and add a cabinet. We put cabinets underneath to give the kitchen a crisp and beautiful space.
Westwood NJ, Bathroom Renovation
We did a full remodel that delivered the “WOW factor” that Pete and Michele were hoping for. "Are we satisfied? YOU BET WE ARE!!!!!!!...." That was part of the amazong testimonial that we received from the couple. This job warmed our hearts and made us happy to be able to do what we do.
East Hanover, NJ Kitchen Renovation
When this customer from East Hanover, NJ came in with architectural plans to remodel their second floor kitchen, living room and dining room, we jumped at the opportunity. The client requested that we rebuild the rooms so that she could see her children playing on the first floor, while she remained in the kitchen. How fun!
North Caldwell, NJ Coffered Ceilings and Full Remodel
This job was completed in conjunction with master carpenter, Ken Prehart, and Terriann Loverde, who is the Owner of Personal Space Interiors and an incredible interior designer. With Terriann’s immaculate design skills and Ken’s artistic ability and dedication to his craft, the job took on a life of its own.
The customer asked that the RWC team design and build custom coffered ceilings in the kitchen and dining room. They also asked that we build a floor to ceiling fireplace surrounded by a mantle and window seats.
We hope that you enjoyed looking over these jobs as much as we whole-heartedly found pleasure in completing them. Each project was different - just like the clients who we had the opportunity to meet and get to know to thoroughly learn and fulfill their vision. Which each job we aim to make our customer’s dreams a reality while working within their budget and truly listening to them, It’s been a great year and we look to make 2016 even better!
Happy New Year my friends! And remember, we’ve been relieving home improvement stress since 1959 so if you like what you see or just want to call us for a free consultation, give this page a visit and contact us today!