Not everyone has the money to spend on getting laborers out in the yard to dig, tear out, rebuild and modify the landscaping, flowerbeds and patio areas even though most of us would love to do that.  The truth is that, right now, many families are hurting for money and do not need to go into anymore debt.  For those families there are alternatives that can get you through until you can do some of the major things to your yard.

Many people want a pool.  This may sound lame but get a small baby pool so the kids can play in and around it and you have a place to soak your tired feet and sip a beer or glass of wine in the evening.  Make some planters out of things around the house that you don’t need anymore.  For example; five gallon bucket make great patio tomato planters or you can turn an old fishing tackle box into a delightful planter of petunias!  This is a great way to be creative without feeling like you have to spend a lot of money or get left out this year on having a beautiful garden.

With the spring there is rain and sometimes, lots of it!  One of the last things you might want to think about is your gutters and downspouts.  If you didn’t clean your gutters last fall, then you will need to get them cleaned in early spring to allow for the water to flow through the gutters and out the downspouts with ease.  If there is blockage, there water has to go somewhere and that somewhere can be your attic and your house!

What I have never understood is why the downspouts stop right at the bottom of the run beside the house?  This is crazy as water can deteriorate a foundation in no time.  Look what it has done to the Grand Canyon!  It is imperative that you add extensions to your downspouts and move that water away from the foundation at least 6 ft.  There are several different downspout extenders you can buy and I like the flexible ones because I can bend it around in the direction I want the water to go.  Get it done before the rainy season arrives and you just might avoid a much larger problem in the making.

That’s right.  It is time to clean out the old and get ready for the new in more ways than one.  I really took a look at my yard yesterday and I did not like what I saw!  I have been so busy, unlike any of you… right, that I have completely let my yard go this year.  There are dead plants that need to be pulled up and put in the compost pile that needs to be turned and leaves that need to be cleaned out of the gutters and put into the compost pile that needs to be turned and sticks and debris that need to be picked up and put into the compost pile that needs to be turned.  Did I mention the compost pile needs to be turned!

I am behind and if you are like me, you have to put these things on your calendar or to do list in order to get them completed and off the list.  So today, I got all those little things listed on the calendar so I can be ready when March comes roaring in like a lion.  Spring is almost here so I am determined to be ready; are you?