Home 101: Outdoor Cleaning Checklist

'Tis the season to trim the trees and power wash the deck. Find out what other yard work needs to be done.

HomeAdvisor, Brand Partner

Posted Sun, Apr 22, 2018 at 7:21 pm ET

Spring cleaning isn't just about organizing your closet and mopping the floors — the yard needs some work done, too!

Actually, every season requires homeowners to do some outside maintenance, but doing so for the warmer months of the year will produce the most noticeable results. Fortunately for you, we've put together an outdoor cleaning checklist with everything you need to do this spring as well as tips for the summer, fall and winter.

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Spring

Landscaping: Now is the time to cut back and trim any overgrown bushes and limbs. You should also remove any fallen branches or leftover winter debris from your yard if you haven't done so already.

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Deck: Remove debris from the deck, stairs and surrounding areas. You can clean off mold and mildew the old-fashioned way, with a scrub brush and deck soap, or bring in a professional to power wash the area.

Check all decks, railings and stairs for loose parts and signs of deterioration. Open wooden decks typically need to be treated every 4-6 years, depending on how much exposure they have to sun and rain.

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Sprinklers: Turn on the water for your sprinkler system and check to see if it has any leaky valves, exposed lines or improperly working sprinkler heads. If there's an area of the yard that's getting too much water or not enough, make sure to fix it before your lawn floods or dries out. If it's not an easy DIY fix, contact a sprinkler repair service.

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Gutters: Remove leaves and debris from gutters and downspouts. Run a hose on the roof to check that they're draining properly and directing water away from the house.

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Roof: Remove leaves, branches and debris from the roof. Cleaning off moss and algae is also important and will ultimately extend the life of your roof.

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Siding: Having your home’s siding cleaned with a pressure washer will keep mold from growing. You should also inspect all wood surfaces for weathering and paint failure. If you find problem areas, deal with them immediately to prevent further damage.

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Summer

Landscaping: Once again, rake up sticks, leaves and other debris from your yard. This extra debris kills sprouting grass and will result in bare spots on your lawn.

If weeds have sprouted in your lawn or garden, tend to them now before they take over the whole yard.

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Fall

Landscaping: After the leaves have turned, prune your trees and shrubs to encourage healthy growth. Now is also the time to trim back tree limbs that are close to power lines or the roof of your house. Heavy snow and ice can cause damage in the winter.

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Gutters: Gutters and downspouts should be cleaned frequently throughout the fall season to prevent the buildup of leaves and other debris.

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Winter

Landscaping: Winter is an ideal time to renovate the lawn and eliminate brown spots and crab grass left over from the previous summer. To do this, rake to open up the ground and expose the soil so new seeds can germinate. Next, level the lawn with new soil as needed and reseed where necessary.

Clean out your flower beds, removing fallen leaves and blossoms. This will help prevent fungus and molds from growing.

Winter is also the time to prune your trees and any rose bushes you might have. Make sure to do this before they start to bud.

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Sprinklers: Winterizing your sprinkler system is basically removing any and all water that's in the lines, pipes, valves, pumps and sprinklers. If you fail to do this and water is left in the system, the pipes and other parts can freeze, expand and break.

Winterizing your sprinkler system is best left to the professionals. They can attach an air compressor to the system and literally "blow out" the water from the lines, pipes and other parts.

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First Photo Credit: gkrphoto/Shutterstock