Spring arrives as a welcome break from the winter doldrums. Start your spring cleaning inside, then move outside as the weather warms up:

Clean the deck to remove grime, pollen, fungus, and mildew. Scrub the surface with a deck cleanser or this homemade cleaning formula: Add one cup of powdered laundry detergent to a gallon of hot water, and add 1/2 cup of chlorine bleach to kill moss or mildew.

Check shrubs and trees for winter damage and prune accordingly. Remove deadwood or broken branches. Replant any shrubs that have heaved out of the soil during a freeze-thaw cycle, before the roots dry out.

Bring your garden hose out of storage. Check for cracks and leaks and examine the rubber or plastic washers at the connectors as well.


Reprinted with Permission of Hearst Communications, Inc. Originally Published: http://www.countryliving.com/homes/home-maintenance/Outdoor-Hints-0405