Spring… is it really here? The days are a bit longer, the temperatures a bit warmer. The grass is looking a little greener, and those yellow forsythia bushes are starting to bloom. So, what to do?
Now is the time to treat your lawn with a pre-emergence crabgrass preventer. I’d recommend waiting a few weeks before treating for broadleaf weeds, though. Those dandelion blooms are the first food source of the year for our much-needed honeybees.
One really important spring task is replacing the batteries in your smoke detectors. If your detector is several years old, it’s wise to go ahead and replace the whole unit. While you’re at it, take a walk around your property and look for standing water. Check wheelbarrows, neglected flowerpots, and sagging gutters. Look for anywhere water tends to collect. Those are prime mosquito breeding spots, and getting ahead of them now makes a big difference come summer. Spring is also a good time to check your garden hoses and outdoor spigots for any damage from the winter freeze and give your lawn mower a once-over before the season gets busy.
Don’t forget to get outside for some fun, too. Maybe this is the year you take up pickleball. There are pickleball courts in Broadway, Timberville, and Mount Jackson. Set up a picnic at one of our area parks. Volunteer for a civic club, school, or community project. You might be surprised at how good it makes you feel. After a winter of hibernation, interacting with your community can feel like a spring tonic!
Early spring is also a wonderful time for a hike. Go on weekly hikes to watch the seasons change. The wildflowers and flowering trees are something else, and you’re likely to spot a good variety of birds and wildlife along the way. There are more than just physical health benefits to hiking or walking. Getting outside every day helps boost your immune system, lowers stress, sets you up for better sleep, and can improve mental clarity.
Stop in and check out our spring selection of lawn and garden supplies, seeds, and everything you need to get the season started right. Here at the hardware store, we’re always happy to help guide you through a home improvement project, and we love hearing about how you’re enjoying the season. It’s been a long, cold winter, folks. Get out there and take advantage of the warmer days ahead. I’m nearly over my time-change grumpies and looking forward to some gardening, old-car tinkering, and just enjoying life here in the Shenandoah Valley.
As always, remember at Randy’s Hardware, we don’t mind your questions. We don’t mind them at all!
