Need Help with Yard Work After a Storm? Try These Tips First!

Watching a summer storm is fun and thrilling when you are dry and safe inside your home, but once the skies clear, cleaning up can be a nightmare. These four tips will help you get your house and yard looking great in no time.

1. Know what you are dealing with

Once the storm passes, head outside and inspect your property. Look for any damage which requires immediate attention such as downed power lines or broken and leaking pipes. Then check your house’s shingles, siding, windows and gutters for signs of any visible damage. It is always best to avoid climbing a ladder to inspect your home to prevent accidents unless you have extensive experience. Finally, examine your trees, lawn, and garden to see if there is any additional damage.

Write down all of the damage you see and remember to take photos just in case you need to file an insurance claim.

2. Pick up the pieces

After inspecting your property, the real cleanup can begin. Start by picking up any fallen debris laying around your yard and cleaning your gutters. Remember to wear gloves to protect your hands and stay clear of any trees which may fall or other areas which could result in an injury. Rake leave and small twigs into piles and then bag them up and place on the curb for pick up. Collect larger branches and either save for firewood or dispose of them according to your local laws since many areas have special requirements for yard waste. Call your local sanitation department to find out if they are planning additional pickups when the picks will occur and any special requirements.

3. Inspect your plants and flowers

Identify any plants or flowers with broken stems. Since it is highly likely that these plants will not survive, now is a good time to remove them and replant if you desire. As long as the plant’s stem is not broken, there is a good chance you can save the plant, and it will ultimately recover. Remove any damaged parts of the plant to prevent disease, but avoid cutting away more than a third of the plant.  Plants which were uprooted during the storm can be replanted. As long as you do it quickly and the plant suffered only moderate damage.

4. Repair your trees

Trees can take a real beating during a violent storm. The first thing you need to do when you have damage to your property’s trees is to assess whether it is safe to leave the tree standing. If there is extensive damage which may make the tree unstable, you should call a professional. But on the other hand, if there is only minor damage to the tree, you can address these issues by yourself. Cleanly prune the area where limbs fell from the tree to remove jagged edges and provide plenty of water and fertilizer to help the tree recover.

Storm damage to your landscape is sometimes more than you can handle on your own. If you live in the Salem area, you can depend on the professionals at Green Acres Landscape to help your property recover from even the most intense storms. Call 506-399-8066 for more information.

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