# Best outdoor jobs to tackle in Spring

- **Published:** 14 October 2021
- **Type:** Blog
- **Tags:** Lawn & garden

Coming out of winter and into spring, there are plenty of outdoor jobs to do around your property to help your house exterior and garden recover from the chill.

Spring is also a great time to prepare the garden and house exterior for summer, getting entertaining areas back in shape, reintroducing nutrients to plants, and getting your home maintenance under control so you can spend those long summer days relaxing.

Outdoor maintenence jobs such as cleaning paths and patios, trimming trees and hedges and general tidying up are a whole lot more appealing after winter, especially when you hire professional-grade gear from Hirepool to get them over and done with.

This blog will cover all the outdoor jobs you should get done in spring and some top tips on making outdoor maintenance easy.

## Why outdoor maintenance is important in Spring

Winter can be extremely harsh on outdoor areas, with rain and wind wreaking havoc on your property, often causing damage to your slumbering garden beds. Plants are in survival mode, and tend to be lacking in nutrients after battling weeds and falling debris. You may also look around your property and find that your fences are looking a little worse for wear, your driveway has some grimy build up and your house could do with a good power wash.

The great news is, a bit of outdoor maintenance can bring everything back to life and get your home looking its best quick sharp with a little bit of time and [the right outdoor tools.](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/landscaping.md)

Spring is a good time to assess any winter damage, make plans, and start tidying up. Lots of plant care is needed to help replenish and encourage new growth, including [getting your spring lawn care sorted](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/articles/blog/lawn-care-101-everything-you-need-to-know-for-a-great-looking-lawn.md) so it’s looking lush before summer.

Summer brings with it warm weather and sometimes water restrictions, meaning there may be some weeks where it’s too hot to be working in the sun (or you’d simply rather be at the beach). Speed up your maintenance jobs by [hiring cleaning tools](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/water-blasters.md) and [repair equipment](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/building-renovation.md) so you can put your feet up when summer comes!

## What you should do with your lawn and garden in the spring

Spring is the ideal time of year for not only repairing garden beds after winter, but also growing new plants, and prepping for the heat of summer so your greenery is strong.

### Lawn care

- **Sew new grass**

Grass seed grows best when it’s sewn in spring as the weather is optimal for germination. Get onto your [repair work](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5salTfoP85I) or lay that new lawn you have been wanting!

To pull up the ground quickly for laying grass, use a [rotary hoe](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/landscaping/rotary-hoes/426b-rotary-hoe-cultivator-mini-5-horsepower.md) or a [digger](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/earthmoving/excavators-diggers/330z-excavator-towable-standard-tailswing-0-9-to-1-4-tonne.md) for larger areas. Get new soil down efficiently with a [skid steer loader](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/earthmoving/mini-skid-steer-loaders/620a-skid-steer-loader-mini.md).

- **Raking**

After winter there is likely to be leaves and debris covering grass, and blocking it from getting the sunlight it needs to thrive. A good rake will do wonders for a healthy lawn. Using a [leaf blower](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/landscaping/leaf-blowers/419b-leaf-blower-hand-held.md?addToCart) on large areas will speed up the job and keep freshly mowed areas looking clean.

- **Weeding and spraying**

Just as spring is a good time for growing your lawn seed, it’s also nature’s way of spreading the seed of weeds!

Keep them at bay by plucking out the ones you can down to the root, and using a [weed sprayer](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/landscaping/landscaping-equipment-other/412h-sprayer-backpack-hand-operated.md) to tackle any that got a bit larger over winter.

- **Aerating the lawn**

Aerating the soil helps to provide much needed oxygen and ensures your lawn is able to drain and take nutrients - this is especially important lawn maintenance with summer coming.

- **Fertilising**

Fertilising is an important part of [lawn care](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/articles/blog/lawn-care-101-everything-you-need-to-know-for-a-great-looking-lawn.md?from=10134) for spring, as the grass will need an injection of nutrients after winter.

A liquid fertiliser can be distributed with a [lawnboy sprayer](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/landscaping/landscaping-equipment-other/412j-lawnboy-sprayer-walk-behind.md) to speed up the process on a larger lawn. Weed and Feed products are a great two in one option.

- **Dethatching**

This is the process of removing the built up thatch layer between the grass and the soil. Too much thatch stops nutrients getting down to the root. Use a [dethatcher](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/landscaping/lawn-mowers-scarifier-dethatchers/414b-lawn-scarifier-dethatcher.md) to remove it easily so your lawn is healthy before summer.

### Plant care

- **Fertilising**

Just as lawns need nutrients, so do your plants! Get your fruits and vegetables producing well, and boost your florals and trees with the use of a [fertiliser sprayer](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/landscaping/landscaping-equipment-other/412h-sprayer-backpack-hand-operated.md) which is great for tackling multiple areas easily.

- **Weeding**

Get into the garden beds and pull out any weeds so that your plants are not fighting for nutrients and having sunlight blocking them from growing.

- **Pruning**

Pruning can help with encouraging new growth, but do remember it is [important to prune only the right types of plants in spring](https://www.palmers.co.nz/what-to-prune-and-when/) as some plants prefer to be left alone. A [pruner saw](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/building-renovation/saws/421a-pruner-saw-extension-petrol.md) will give you good reach for things like tall hedges and trees.

### Tidying up

- **Trim overgrown trees**

Using [saws & pruning gear](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/landscaping/chainsaws-pruning-saws.md) is a good way to cut back any trees that have become overgrown in winter. Some trees are likely to have extra growth in spring so trimming now will ensure they don’t get out of control.

Reach difficult areas by using [battery operated telescopic pruners](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/landscaping/chainsaws-pruning-saws/421b-pruner-saw-extension-battery.md?addToCart) and [hedge trimmers](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/landscaping/hedge-trimmers.md) which improves safety when working at height.

- **Get rid of debris**

Winter wind is likely to have blown all sorts of debris around the garden

including fallen branches. Other plants are likely to die off if they are trapped under branches, so it’s best to gather debris up quickly.

- **Remove rubbish from garden beds**

Small bits of rubbish can easily clutter up your garden beds especially in entryway areas. Remove this quickly before it breaks down and contaminates the soil.

- **Dispose of waste and start mulching**

Once your garden is looking pruned and tidy, dispose of the green waste easily with the use of a trailer, then [make mulch with organic matter](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/guides/diy/how-to-create-mulch-with-a-wood-chipper.md) using a [chipper](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/landscaping/mulchers-chippers-log-splitters.md).

## Spring maintenance checklist

### Check your weatherboards and decking

- **Assess and repair**

Following potential winter damage, spring is a good time to assess any repairs that need to be done and get onto the job before it gets too hot.

- **Water blasting**

Weatherboards and decking are likely to be covered in mold and moss after winter so [hiring a good water blaster](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/water-blasters.md) will ensure rot doesn’t take place, and any unsafe slippery surfaces are remedied. Be careful when waterblasting decking and weatherboards as doing this incorrectly can result in unwanted damage.

- **Look for worn boards**

Now is a good time to check if any boards need replacing due to rot and check if house paint needs freshening up.

Hire a [sander](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/floors-cleaning/handheld-sanders/512b-belt-sander-100mm.md) to prep boards then an [airless paint sprayer](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/painting-decorating/paint-sprayers-attachments/448a-airless-spray-painting-unit.md) to make quick work of exterior painting. New boards can be cut to size easily with a [compound sliding saw](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/building-renovation/saws/528c-compound-sliding-saw-electric-305mm.md).

- **Check for rotten decking**

[Replace decking boards](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/guides/diy/attaching-decking-boards.md) as needed to ensure you have a safe deck to walk on. Make the job easier by hiring a [nail gun](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/building-renovation/staplers-nailers/125f-gas-nailer-to-90mm.md) to secure boards, and using a trailer for transporting timber.

- **Re-stain decking**

Staining in summer can be too hot, so spring is a good time to get this job done. Plus it means you will be ready for summer entertaining!

- **Check timber structures**

Things like timber garden sheds and pergolas can get forgotten about, so whilst you are checking decks and weatherboards, it’s a good time to look over these as well.

### Assess your roof for damage and clear gutters

- **Assess your roof for damage**

Winter can cause damage to a roof causing leaks and internal damage. Hire a [scaffold tower](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/scaffolding-ladders/scaffolding/445l-mobile-scaffold-tower-4m.md) or [scissor lift](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/access/scissor-lifts/407b-scissor-lift-2wd-slab-battery-10m.md) to check if roofing iron or screws have come loose.

- **Secure loose roof iron**

If you are able to safely secure roof iron back down, it’s a good idea to do this in spring as summer time can make this job a little harder. You may need to book in a professional for this job.

- **Spray the roof**

An older roof is more likely to suffer from colour fade, so spring is a good time to give it a respray before it gets too hot for painting.

- **Check the gutters and downpipes**

Over winter gutters and downpipes can become clogged, resulting in rain water overflowing into the wrong places causing damage to surrounding areas such as paths and garden beds.

Clear blockages with a [drain rat](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/landscaping/water-blasters/146p-water-blaster-drain-rat.md), and hire a [scaffold tower](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/scaffolding-ladders/scaffolding/445k-mobile-scaffold-tower-3m.md) for easy access to gutters.

### Tidy paths and fences

- **Remove build up**

[Hire a water blaster](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/guides/diy/keeping-decking-fencing-clean.md) to remove mould and moss from paths and fences to reduce rotting and slippery surfaces post winter. This is also a good way to loosen weeds between pavers.

Check on the condition as you go, and consider [replacing fence pails.](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/guides/diy/attaching-fence-rails-palings.md)

- **Re-paint fences**

Once you’ve cleaned off the fences it’s a good idea to repaint to tidy up any fading and keep the timber sealed. Hire an [airless paint sprayer](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/painting-decorating/paint-sprayers-attachments/448a-airless-spray-painting-unit.md) to speed the job up.

- **Top up entryway bark and stones**

Over winter bark and stones are likely to have blown around and may need a top up. Hiring a trailer to pick up supplies for larger areas is much faster than using individually bagged versions.

### Have a clear out

- **Clear the garage of excess junk**

A top job for this time of year is completing spring cleaning. Getting rid of junk that was stored over winter will leave you more room for the important stuff.

Use a [high side trailer](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/trailers/furniture-trailers/611d-trailer-high-side-single-axle-up-to-2-47m-x-1-5m.md?addToCart) if you have plenty to get rid of!

- **Get rid of green waste**

Another great use for a [high side trailer](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/products/equipment/trailers/furniture-trailers/611d-trailer-high-side-single-axle-up-to-2-47m-x-1-5m.md?addToCart) while you have it is getting rid of green waste. Branches, hedge clipping and debris can be taken away in one load.

### Prep for summer

- **Drain and clean the pool**

If you are lucky enough to have a pool you will want to have it sparkling clean and ready for summer.

Draining it and giving it a water blast will get rid of slimy residue and build up.

- **Check your sprinkler systems**

With hot weather on the way you will want to make sure your sprinklers and hoses are ready to cope with the frequent use they will get in summer.

Replace any worn hoses and make sure your sprinklers are still in place.

- **Replace worn outdoor furniture**

If outdoor furniture covers haven’t held up over winter your furniture may be looking worse for wear. Consider replacing items now ready for entertaining.

- **Update entertaining areas**

[Jazz up outdoor entertaining areas](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/articles/blog/10-garden-ideas-and-trends-for-2021.md) by adding decorative items like lighting, or taking on some bigger projects like a paved area for seating.

## Hungry for more Spring DIY projects?

Why not try [preparing your house for painting](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/articles/blog/preparing-your-house-for-exterior-painting.md), [redoing your fence](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/articles/blog/choosing-the-right-fence-for-your-property.md) or [building a new deck](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/guides/diy/attaching-decking-boards.md). Check out the [Hirepool DIY hub](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/diy-hub.md) for more inspiration and advice!

Visit the team at any [branch](https://www.hirepool.co.nz/branches.md) to hire your outdoor garden tools, or easily book the gear you need online now.

Source: https://www.hirepool.co.nz/articles/blog/best-outdoor-jobs-to-tackle-in-spring