HOME & GARDEN

This rotating feature highlights seasonal topics focused on pets and gardening, offering practical tips and helpful insights to support life at home throughout the year.

Growing Together

SIMPLE WAYS TO REFRESH YOUR OUTDOOR SPACES FOR SPRING

April is the perfect time to prepare your yard and garden for the busy growing season ahead. As temperatures warm and daylight increases, a little outdoor maintenance now can set the stage for a healthier landscape, a more productive garden, and even improved energy efficiency around your home.

Start with Spring Cleanup

Winter often leaves behind fallen branches, dead leaves, and debris. Begin by clearing flower beds, trimming back ornamental grasses, and removing damaged limbs from shrubs and trees. Raking leftover leaves and loosening compacted soil allows air and moisture to reach plant roots, encouraging healthy spring growth.

Take a few minutes to inspect walkways, outdoor lighting, and fences that may have been affected by winter weather.

Prepare Your Garden Beds

Healthy soil is the foundation of a productive garden. Turn the soil in garden beds and mix in compost or organic matter to replenish nutrients. Raised beds are also a popular option because they warm up faster in spring and provide good drainage.

Early April is ideal for planting cool-season vegetables such as lettuce, spinach, radishes, and peas. These crops thrive in cooler temperatures and can often be harvested before summer heat arrives.

Quick Spring Yard Checklist

Remove leaves, branches, and winter debris

Trim ornamental grasses and prune damaged limbs

Add compost or organic matter to garden soil

Service lawn mower and outdoor equipment

Install energy-efficient LED or solar landscape lighting

Plan tree planting for shade and energy savings

Call 811 before digging for fences, trees, or garden beds

Maintain Outdoor Equipment

Before mowing season begins, inspect your lawn mower, trimmer, and other yard tools. Sharpen blades, check spark plugs, and replace worn parts so equipment operates safely and efficiently.

Battery-powered yard tools have become increasingly popular because they are quieter, require less maintenance, and eliminate fuel storage.

Plan for Energy Savings

Your landscaping choices can help improve your home’s energy efficiency. Planting shade trees on the south and west sides of your home can reduce summer cooling costs by blocking direct sunlight. Using LED outdoor lighting or solar landscape lights can also help reduce energy use while keeping your property well lit.

Energy Advisor Tip

“Strategic tree placement can make a noticeable difference in summer cooling costs,” says Nick Borgman, Energy Advisor at Southeastern Indiana REMC. “Deciduous trees planted on the south and west sides of your home provide shade during the hottest months while allowing sunlight through in the winter.”

Avoid planting large trees directly under power lines or too close to electrical equipment.

Life Outside, Connected Inside

Spring is also a great time to enjoy working or relaxing outdoors. With SEI Fiber, many members can take their laptop or tablet to the porch, patio, or backyard while staying connected with fast, reliable internet.

Check availability in your area at seiremc.com/seifiber.