Cleaning Up Your Outdoors After Winter

[This article was originally published in March 2019 and has been updated and expanded.]

Spring is here and cleaning your outdoor area will likely result in yard waste that will need to be disposed of. Hmm what to do with all that green stuff and where to begin?

Although many throughout the country are still suffering through the throes of very winter-like weather, spring really is "just around the corner" and post-winter cleanup will be a priority.

When Winter Weather Wreaks Havoc in Your Outdoor Spaces

Winter is almost over and the official storm season is coming to an end. 

According to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, the 2022 storm season ended with 14 named tropical systems, including eight hurricanes, with two major hurricanes (Fiona and Ian). But it's not all quite over yet!

A headline from CNN on February 28, 2023 declared,

Tornadoes and severe winds strike central US as another round of rain and snow is set to pummel the West and North

But as in every year, this, too, shall pass.

For many homeowners and renters, the end of winter weather and the arrival of spring not only means baseball and warmer weather, but a great opportunity to get their yards back in shape. Obviously some get to start sooner than others, but the work is the same: cutting, pruning, trimming and mowing.

And, for the more ambitious, possibly taking out some old plants and putting in some new ones.

Taking On the Work of Outdoor Cleanup and Yard Waste Removal 

While mowing the lawn and picking up all the dead branches and leaves is pretty straightforward work, there are a number of other tasks that should be done for your outdoor space. During winter storms, many items that were stacked or stored outdoors may have been toppled or even blown away and lodged in corners or behind outdoor structures.

But outdoor cleanup involves much more than lawns and yards. Your house, decks, patios and other outdoor areas should be cleaned as well.

In addition to cleaning and freshening up, there may be repairs to be done, items replaced, and winterizing elements to be removed and stored for another day. For some, part of the overall cleanup will include debris from broken or fallen fences and possibly even old sheds that finally saw their last winter storm season!

With all this in mind, here's a handy checklist to help you cover all the cleaning items that may need to be addressed in between your spring pruning, mowing and planting.

• Cleaning the Windows

  If you have a single story home this can be relatively easy though a two (or three!) story house can be far more challenging. One really effective method is to rent a steam machine from your local home improvement store to clean the outside windows. It is great at removing built up dirt and grime.

• Cleaning off Siding

  For most siding, a pressure washer will do the trick. Just be sure to do this before you do your windows! If you have vinyl siding, however, avoid the pressure washer - it can push water behind your siding panels and possibly cause mold or rot later in the year.

• Brighten up Your Garage Door

  Most people never think about their garage door needing cleaned, but it, too, can build up grime and even mold or mildew. For most doors you can use the same tools you use to wash your car. If you do choose to use a pressure washer, though, be careful not to get water into your garage.

• Scrub the Sidewalks

  There are a number of methods for cleaning sidewalks and driveways, but here's a simple one from the expertsinyourhome.com blog:
   
  • Treat the concrete with dish soap and water.
  • Upgrade to a powder laundry detergent and water.
  • Apply a scrubbing cleanser, such as Comet or Bon Ami.
  • Exchange your brush for a pressure washer, starting over again with water alone and then working through the cleansers.

• Remove Homes of Critters and Crawling Things

  While certainly not everyone's favorite chore, depending on where you live, getting rid of old cobwebs is another cleaning task. This is a good time to look for and remove any old wasp nests and other "structures" left by insects, birds and other creatures.

• Clear the Decks - And Clean Them, Too

  If you have a deck that needs cleaning this will be determined by the type of material your deck is made of. Spring is a great time to clean and restore your deck so that you have a beautiful area for backyard entertaining and relaxing.

Outdoor Cleanup and the Need for Yard Waste Removal

Of course, all this work will result not only in an attractive and inviting outdoor area, but piles of yard waste, debris and assorted junk that will need to be disposed of. Some of that might fit in your "green" waste bin, if you have one. But if your cleaning and outdoor restoration results in a large amount of yard waste, you need a better disposal option.

Maybe you've never considered calling a professional junk hauling firm for your yard waste. And you might even think that those large piles of trimmings, foliage, and organic debris aren't something that a junk removal company would deal with.

Actually, it's a great option!

In fact, by calling Junk King, for example, we will remove almost every type of yard debris and waste, such as branches, clippings, stumps, soil, sod and other landscaping debris. The only thing we can't pick up for you is anything that is hazardous waste. 

Aside from that, we can remove and haul other types of junk and debris left from residential landscaping and improvement projects, including old fencing, timber and lumber. You might have some debris hanging around from some home repairs or renovations.

No worries! We also pick up and haul sheet rock, door frames, windows, shingles and even corrugated metal or plastic.

Because junk can accumulate over the previous seasons, you want to get rid of it before another winter comes around. Spring is an especially good time to go through your yard and property and do some thorough cleaning up. If you’re a gardener, it’s time to break out your tools and mulch. 

Of course, this means that you’re going to have piles of empty bags, unwanted yard and garden items and maybe even old lawn furniture that you just don't want any more.

And it’s likely that you may already have bags of yard waste, like branches, mulch or clippings, that kept piling up through the fall and winter. This is what we often refer to as "bulk trash" and having to take them to the dump is time consuming and burdensome – and that’s assuming that you even have a vehicle that can handle it all.

The Expert Team for Your Yard Debris

As you already know, yard waste can come in many forms. Winter storms can leave tree branches strewn across your yard. Maybe you’ve undertaken a gardening or landscaping project that’s left dirt and debris everywhere. Or it may simply be a large amount of junk and clutter in your yard that you haven’t had time to clean up.

Whatever it may be, Junk King provides an efficient, safe and eco-friendly yard waste removal service so you don’t need to worry about the pick up or disposal of your yard debris. Our experienced debris removal team will break down and haul off any types of yard waste you have. Unlike the backseat of your car, our junk removal trucks are made to handle those dirty yard debris items.

Our professional and insured yard waste removal team will show up at your home or office, and we’ll call 15 to 30 minutes before we arrive on site. Once there we’ll give you a free estimate based on how much room your junk takes up in our truck. You just point, and we haul the debris into our junk removal trucks, with no hidden fees.

So, ready to get rid of your after winter yard waste? We make it simple.

Make an appointment by booking online above or by calling 1.888.888.JUNK (5865).