April Showers Bring May Flowers To Your Home

April is here! It’s time for getting outside and either playing or working in the outdoors. It’s also the rainy season in the Midwest. We find ourselves inundated every April with heavy rains; however, for homeowners it’s time to get those plants in the ground. Let’s talk about beautifying the outside of your home and how it could affect the value of your home; which would allow you to get the best rate on your mortgage.

Let’s tackle it in steps. To really make the outside of your home a showcase, you need a plan, so we’ll start there. You don’t have to be a master architect or a professional designer to create a design plan. First, find out what you like. Next, do some research on what flowers, shrubs and trees you like, and go pick them out. After that, measure your space, plot out the land, and put in what you want. Something for you to keep in mind when you do your research, you need find out how your plants thrive. Do they need lots of sunlight? Lots of shade? Constant watering? Be INFORMED but make it your own. Ask yourself; do I want a fountain? Then if you do, put in a fountain! Finally, get good soil: it will save you lots of dead plants, TRUST me.

Now it’s time to actually plant. I’ve found that mixing fertilizer with the soil as you plant is a great way to ensure the plants get the nutrients they need. Also, make sure that you plant in the spring. If you plant too early, when it’s still cold, they’ll die before they can take root. Plant too late, when it’s too hot, and you risk the same fate. A trick that I picked up one year when it was too cold in April was to plant indoors in pots, and then transfer the plants outside once it warmed up. That way the plants can root and grow inside; while you wait for it to warm up outside. Just make sure that there hasn’t been a frost for at least 2 weeks, and that the temperatures overnight stay above freezing before you transfer the plants outside.

Putting the plants in the ground is the fun part. Depending on whether you are planting seeds or potted plants, the initial instructions are different. If you are planting seeds, dig a hole about 2-3 inches wide and deep, and plant them evenly. Each plant is different, so follow the instructions with the seeds. When you’re transferring a potted plant, it’s a little different. You need to dig a hole the same size as the root ball to get started. You don’t need to cover the plant with soil, just the roots.

First, drench the soil to make sure that the roots have water for their trip. Then, remove the plant (carefully) from the soil, and break up the soil around the root ball. This helps the roots stretch out into the soil, instead of growing into a lump. Then, place the plants in the soil, using your hands to fill in the dirt around the roots and there you are, planted flowers!

Get Started

Hopefully this has helped you plan and execute your perfect landscaping job and helped you make your home a better place to live. If you want to landscape your mortgage payment too, call The Home Loan Expert, Ryan Kelley today in St. Louis, Chicago, Indianapolis and Nashville.  You can also visit us online at www.thehomeloanexpert.com to refinance or purchase your new home. Nobody makes it easier.