KATHY'S HOME & GARDEN TIPS - TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THESE WARMER DAYS
Spring is not too far away here in the Chicago area. These past few days have been most welcome after the several feet of snow and bone chilling cold we have had this winter. I actually saw people in shorts last weekend!
Now is the time to check around the house for any winter damage before the spring rains arrive. Here are a few tips:
1. Check those gutters and downspouts. One of our downspout connections was torn apart. It had been buried in the snow and now all of the water was pouring back towards the house. You always want to be sure water is diverted away from the house.
2. Look around the outside of the house for any areas around doors and windows that might need a little caulk.
3. Spruce up the yard. Look for any damage on trees and bushes. Hopefully you have been diligent keeping the snow off of them and damage will be minimal. Trim off any broken or dead branches.
4. Now is a great time to seed the lawn. Do a light rake first, getting up all the old leaves and debris. The seed will lay dormant until it gets warm enough to germinate. The spring rains will give it plenty of moisture.
5. Make sure all drains are clear near the house. The drain by the basement is especially important. Without a clear drain the water will end up in the basement.
KATHLEEN WEAVER-ZECH & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
