Lee Morof's Real Estate Blog

In some parts of the country, it has already started snowing! But, even if you live in an area with a moderate climate, your lawn and garden are about to take a “winter break.” 

Here are 3 tips to assure that your yard will not only survive the winter, but flourish during the dormant season. They’ll assure that your landscape will greet spring full of life and beauty.

Fertilize The Lawn As Recommended

Most types of grass and landscape plants have a kind of built in “alarm clock” that helps them prepare for the changing seasons and the onset of winter. Many lawns, though, benefit greatly from a a fall “feeding” in order to supply proper nutrients to help roots survive during the cold and be ready to start growing again above ground in the spring.

Applying the proper fertilizer this fall is a simple and cost-effective way to get a jump on next year’s beautiful lawn. When and whether you fertilize will depend on your specific type of grass and your location.

Baby Your Plants

Autumn is the time you’ll want to pamper your plants — from rose bushes to winter squash, kale or potatoes — and different plants require varied treatments to protect them from the cold and frost. If you’re not a master gardener yourself, your local nursery should be able to offer advice. The top three things to remember are that plants need to be well-hydrated in order to prevent stress, that they might need extra nutrition (fertilizer) during the cold season, and that most plants like an extra blanket (in the form of additional mulch) during the winter.

Again, specific solutions will depend on the types of plants in your garden, but a little extra effort this fall will help even your traditional flower garden bloom even more beautifully come spring!

Extend The Growing Season

If you have a backyard vegetable garden or a raised bed full of herbs and spices, and you live in an area with mild to moderate winters, you might be able to extend the growing season indefinitely by covering your beds or tenting the garden. Learn how to protect your plants from freezing by using a frost blanket or rotating row covers. It’s not really that difficult, and the difference of only a few degrees can make a big difference. 

Although frost blankets can top plants directly, you can make them even more effective if you build a simple framework — something like a miniature greenhouse — to give your plants a winter home that allows air to circulate.

For additional information, check with a local greenhouse or nursery, or just experiment with different ideas. No matter what you plan to do, the time to begin is now!

If you are interested in putting your house on the market, your trusted real estate agent has tips and tricks to make the outside and inside of your home shine for potential buyers.

First impressions matter when you’re selling your home. Curb appeal is what draws potential buyers to your home. It can make or break a home sale.

Attractive landscaping or an appealing entryway can determine whether or not buyers walk through your front door. If the outside of your house is poorly kept up, they probably won’t bother to see the inside.

You don’t have to have a large budget or tons of time to make your home look appealing from the outside. Here are some easy outdoor projects that will help you sell your home.

Get Rid Of Clutter

Getting rid of clutter and garbage in your yard is one of the easiest and cheapest things that you can do to make your home look great. Pretend that you are a buyer. Walk around your home and look for clutter. Pick up any plastic, paper, branches or other garbage that has made its way into your yard. Remove trash cans, skateboards, bikes and garden tools. If you have newspapers on your front porch, clear them away.

Clean Up The Landscaping

The last thing that you want is for buyers to pull up to your house and see an overgrown lawn that is littered with weeds. If you have listed your home on the market, it is important to keep the lawn looking neat and trimmed. Prune overgrown shrubs and trim hedges. Weed and water your flower gardens. Add a layer of mulch to all of your flower beds, as well. Sweep away any dead leaves or small branches. Make sure that you are mowing and weed-eating your lawn on a regular basis.

Repaint the Exterior

Repainting your exterior doesn’t cost a ton of money and it can enhance the value of your home quite a bit. It is especially important to repaint if your existing wood trim and front door have peeling paint. Adding a new coat of paint can be done over a weekend in most cases.

Update Lighting  

If you have old or broken exterior lighting, consider updating it. This is another job that does not take much time or money and can quickly give your home a facelift. Plus, exterior lighting is a great safety feature and something that most buyers appreciate.

Replace Broken Fixtures

Take a look at your door hardware, doorbell, house numbers, mailbox and other exterior fixtures. Do they look worn or old? Are they broken? If the answer to either of these questions is yes, then it is time to replace these things. Brushed nickel or bronze are both very nice exterior finishes. They work equally well in both contemporary and traditional homes.

Remember, it can also be a great idea to have your trusted real estate professional take a look and give you tips on how you can maximize your sales price on your home. They have years of experience and will likely be able to uncover opportunities that an owner may overlook.