Getting Your Middle Tennessee Yard and Garden Ready For Winter

Getting Your Middle Tennessee yard and Garden Ready For Winter

 

The weather in Nashville and Middle TN has been very random this year.  Who would have thought we would be having temperatures in the high 80s in January!!???  We know that this warm weather will be coming to an end and before we know it, it will be winter in Middle TN again!  Being a homeowner is so rewarding in so many ways and one of my family’s favorite thing is enjoying our outdoor living space.  When looking for a home the right outdoor space can really be an extension of your living space and when the weather is mild it can be a luxury. The beauty and relaxation that your outdoor space can provide you and your family is certainly worth all the work you put in each year. Putting in a little extra work at the end of the season, however, can make getting your garden ready next spring easier and can help keep your plants healthy through the winter months. Here are a few great tips that will get your garden ready to handle the cold and snow if we get any snow in Nashville this season!

 

Clean Up: Though not a favorite task of any gardener, it is a very necessary step to getting your garden ready for winter. Remove your annuals, empty and store any pots and containers, and give your garden one last mow. Also, raking up all those leaves is one chore all homeowners are familiar with each autumn, but they do make great mulch for your perennials and vegetable garden, and are also a great addition to your compost.

 

Plant Or Relocate Trees And Shrubs: The fall is the best time to get new trees into the ground, or move those you have earmarked to be relocated. The best strategy is to choose trees that are hardy for your zone, as it makes their survival more likely and maintenance easier. Also, choosing evergreens and shrubs that produce berries in the winter months can make your garden more interesting and provide activity for birds and other wildlife. If you have potted plants that can be moved into more of an interior space for example sunroom or garage then you may be able to find a bright spot and keep them alive for next spring.

 

Protect Your Trees: For new or young trees this is an important step you’ll not want to forget in winterizing your garden. Covering trees and shrubs with burlap is most important in areas that have exposure to northwest winds and high sun. Be sure, however, not to do this too early in the season, in order to prevent rot. It is also a good idea to give your evergreens plenty of water to prevent burnout.

 

Test Soil And Mulch: Our Nashville news team usually gives us ample notice of the first freeze so you will have notice to cover and protect anything that is still outside.  After the ground freezes be sure to add mulch to your perennial garden. This will protect both your soil and plants through the long winter months, as well as provide much-needed nutrients for spring. This is also a good time to test the pH of your soil to see if it is lacking any essential minerals for the next growing season.

 

Plant Spring Bulbs: This is also the time of year to get your spring bulbs into the ground. Be sure that you do this before the first frost, and give them plenty of water when planting them.  You will enjoy the gratification of this in the spring.

 

Unlike all the work you put into your garden in spring, winter clean-up can seem like a difficult and unrewarding task, but with this effort you will keep your garden in tip-top shape for the growing season ahead!  The warm lighter climate in Tennessee has kept real estate busier later than usual so if you are considering selling this year, we still have time to get your house on the market and sold!

 

As always, thank you for your business,

Adam Killgore Realtor

SRES, ABR, SFR, e-Pro

Benchmark Realty, LLC

615.429.0597

Adam@ReloNashville.com

www.ReloNashville.com

 

 

First Impressions! Selling your home from the outside

  • Adam Killgore Real Estate Sign with Solar Lights
    Adam Killgore Real Estate Sign with Solar Lights

First Impressions are hard to adjust. I will give you some pointers on how to sell your home before the buyer goes inside!!

One of the many values I bring as your Real Estate Agent is  having your home professionally photographed.  In my experience, professionals are a pro in their profession, so let them showcase your home like a pro!

I’m going to give you an insight of how buyers see the outside of your home through their eyes.  Lets start outside…..

 

Wash your Home

We wouldn’t put ourselves on showcase without cleaning up, so why would we not show the same effort to our HOME!  Don’t let this be intimidating. Focus on the small things as the small things in Real Estate Sell HOMES.

Remove cobwebs, spiders, and all dirt, dust, and leaves from front porch

Pressure-wash the outside of your home, driveway, and garage.

Scrape all old paint off of the windows and repaint. Clean out your gutters.

These things show your buyer that you have taken great care of your HOME.

 

Spruce up your Nest

Try to remember the reasons why you fell in love with your home. Bring it back to life. Renew your Front Door.  A little bit of paint or refinish can brighten up the entrance to your home. Replace your Home address numbers.  You want your home address to stand out from the street and be easy to see.  This is a small thing that can make a huge difference.  You can easily do this for about $10 a number or get crafty form Pinterest.  Just remember to stay neutral.

Replace your old number sign

Replace your old number sign

Replace your mailbox.  Is your mailbox falling down or looks like it survived a tornado?  For $40-$50 you can make it stand tall again!

 

Doormat

I can tell you how this simple thing can make your home look fresh again.  It’s such a low budget way to spruce it UP!

  • Replace your number sign with an easy to read Fresh new one!
    Replace your number sign with an easy to read Fresh new one!

 

Landscape

This does not have to be expensive.  Let the season influence your design.  Mulch, potted plant, or plants on front porch, a simple window box, or even a pumpkin with a mum if its FALL.  Remember huge flowerbeds can come off as a lot of time and work for the busy home buyer, but a simple potted plant adds décor with a sense of warmth.  LOW MAINTENANCE!!

If nothing else, clean out those flowerbeds, remove any weeds and leaves, and keep it simple.  Bushes and small tree’s are a great alternative if you don’t have a green thumb.

 

Lighting

Is your front porch light showing your homes age?  For under $50 you can replace the outside light and really make your home shine!  If replacing the light fixture isn’t an option then clean out the light fixtures and make sure all light bulbs are working.  I love to have a home photographed during the day but also @ night with all the outside lights shining bright.  I always add a solar light in front of my real estate sign.  Lights show ambience and that is always a PLUS.

  • Replace Light Bulbs
    Replace Light Bulbs

Lastly, just take a step back and look @ your home from the street.  Does it look neat and clean? Overcrowding your front porches makes the area look smaller.  You want the buyer to see themselves enjoying their coffee on that front porch.  Less is more. De-clutter every space. Every space can be seen as living space.

Same goes with your garage. Park your car in the garage. Show your buyer that your home has plenty of storage, even if you have completely outgrown your home!

As always, thank you for reading this and please pin, post, and share.