Summer Home Tips
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Summer. You either hate it … or you love it. But if you live in Texas, like we do, you have to deal with it head on. It will sneak up on you and then all of a sudden it is 100 degrees and all the grass is dead. It is not quite a desert, but I do commonly refer to is as the eternal furnace of hell. (I am one of the “hate it” people… )
First, let’s talk grass. And also let’s back up to spring (also known as those two weeks in April when it was breezy). So in spring, I hope you put down a pre-emergent for that grass of yours. Especially if you have St. Augustine. While it is a heat-tolerant grass, it needs to be cared for. It needs to be watered - probably more often than your city allows you to water. It’s also best to water when the sun is not out. We set ours on at 5 am so that it can get a good soak going before the midday sun gets it. If you’ve recently laid sod, except to water about 10-15 minutes twice a day until the roots really take (Up to a month). Another note on the city, if you call them and let them know you’ve laid sod, they will normally work with you on water usage and make a note so that you don’t get fined for overuse.
Next, let’s chat summer cleaning. Some people love spring cleaning, but I feel like when I clean in Texas in spring, it just gets dirty again with the pollen, the constant showers, and the bugs. So once those things have died off and our trees are back to their leafy glory, I get out the power washer. If you don’t have a power washer in your toolbox (shed… it won’t fit in a box..), then you’re missing out. I use it to clean off the sidewalk, driveway, outdoor furniture and cushions, swing sets, soffits, gutters, patios. Literally everything can be power washed. I love getting rid of those spider webs that accumulate in hard to reach places.
If you have a pier and beam foundation in Texas, it’s also now time to take those vent covers off for the summer. Don’t put them on again until the winter. It allows for air flow underneath your home as well as drying out any moisture from the rains.
Air Conditioning. You cannot get through the summer here without it. Before it gets TOO hot, have an HVAC company come out, inspect, and service your unit. They can also identify areas of your home that may need more insulation, new weatherstripping, or even locate areas that are leaking cold air in turn making your electric bill and usage higher.
Mosquitos. I’m going to give you MY advice. I am not a professional pest control company, but I am a mom who spends a LOT of time outside with her kids. In addition to always being the one that’s eaten alive in the summer. First, empty anything that has standing water. Pots, trash cans, toys, lids, ANYTHING that can hold water. Immediately after rain/sprinklers. OKAY here is where I’m going to make people mad and I’m so sorry in advance. Spray your yard with mosquito deterrent. If you ENJOY being outside and spending time in your beautifully watered (see above) grass, then spray your home. We work in homes ALL the time that no not spray and its impossible to enjoy outside there. It truly DOES make a difference. Its not 100% but yesterday I was at a house for 6 minutes on the front patio and both of my legs are completely covered in bites. In addition (or instead if you prefer) traps are great to have also. We have Thermacell machines, Dynatraps, citronella candles, and regularly have a fan going. The BIGGEST culprit is water, so do whatever you can to ensure there is no standing water anywhere around or near your home.
Lastly today, trees! Now, if you ask me my favorite thing about some of the neighborhoods in Dallas, I’ll tell you about my favorite trees. They help bring so much shade, breeze, and coolness during the spring/summer/fall months here. They help our house stay temperature regulated and I love them. BUT we need to take care of them! They need to be pruned just as flowers would need to be! Now that your trees are fully leafed-up (not a real thing, but that’s the best way to describe it), they need to be trimmed of their dead branches, unused nests, or branches that are decaying/ broken. Hug a tree, friends!