Living in Georgia and the surrounding suburbs means dealing with our fair share of weather – from those surprise spring storms to our humid summers and the occasional winter ice event. Taking care of your home’s exterior throughout the year isn’t just about curb appeal (though that matters too when it comes time to sell). It’s about protecting your investment from the Georgia elements.
Whether you’ve got a house in McDonough, a townhome in Marietta, or a condo in Midtown, staying on top of exterior maintenance can save you from some seriously expensive repair bills down the road. And if you’re in a condo, make sure your HOA is handling these tasks – especially in smaller or self-managed buildings.
Some of this stuff you can tackle yourself on the weekends, while other jobs are worth calling in the pros. Here’s what you should be doing each season to keep your home in great shape.
Spring (March through early June)
Once we get past those last chilly days and things start warming up, it’s time to check out how your home weathered the winter and get ready for Georgia’s rainy spring season.
Early Spring Tasks:
Walk around your yard and pick up any dead leaves, fallen branches, and twigs that accumulated over winter. Clear out unwanted growth or brush. Go easy on your lawn though – new grass is just starting to come up and you don’t want to damage those fresh shoots.
Now’s the time to think about drainage before those heavy spring rains hit. You definitely don’t want water pooling around your foundation. Consider adding downspout extenders to your gutters, making sure your landscaping slopes away from the house, or even installing French drains if you’ve got persistent drainage issues.
Clear out your gutters, area drains, and window wells of leaves and debris. When we get one of those Georgia downpours, go outside and check if your gutters are overflowing – that’s a sure sign they’re clogged. You might need to clean them multiple times during spring depending on how many trees you have.
Get your yard tools ready for the season ahead. Clean up your pruning shears, hedge clippers, and trowels – remove any rust and make sure blades are sharp. Stock up on supplies for your garden pots, grab fresh gloves and kneepads, and don’t forget to fill up your mower with gas. This is also a great time to organize your garage or shed and toss anything you’re not using anymore.
Give your deck or patio a good cleaning – power washing works great for concrete, pavers, or composite materials that can handle the pressure. Clean up your outdoor furniture and planters too. Do a thorough job now and you’ll only need quick touch-ups the rest of the year.
Late Spring Tasks:
Hold off on washing your windows and screens until after pollen season wraps up. If you’ve lived in Georgia long enough, you know about that thick yellow coating everything gets in spring! Save yourself the hassle and wait until later in the season to tackle windows, screens, and screen porches.
Get your grill ready for cookout season. Scrub those grates, clean the burners and covers, and either refill your propane tank or stock up on charcoal.
Time to deal with unwanted visitors – and I’m not talking about your neighbors. Ants, spiders, mice, and even rats become more active in warmer weather. Consider hiring a local pest control service. Make sure your trash cans have tight lids and clean up any brush piles that might look like a cozy home to critters.
Check your driveway and sidewalks for winter damage. Seal any cracks in your concrete or asphalt, or if you’ve got pavers, make sure you know how to clean and re-sand them properly – or call someone who does.
Once pollen season is done, you can power wash or clean your deck, patio, and home siding. Consider applying a fresh coat of stain or sealant to protect wood surfaces.
Start planting your summer flowers – annuals, perennials, and bulbs for your beds and containers. Work with local garden centers like Pike Nurseries or your neighborhood spot to figure out what’ll thrive in your specific yard conditions. Early spring is perfect for pansies in pots before it gets too hot.
Order mulch early in the season to give your landscaping that fresh, polished look.
Once you see new growth and buds, you can fertilize and prune most plants. Transplant trees before they leaf out completely. Prune any trees or shrubs that got damaged over winter. Just remember – don’t prune azaleas until after they bloom, but go ahead with non-flowering trees and shrubs.
Summer (Late June through August)
If you stayed on top of things during spring, your yard should be looking pretty good by now. Early June is perfect for finishing up any last preventative maintenance so you can actually enjoy your summer without stressing about yard work.
Summer Priorities:
Have a professional tree service come check on your trees, especially if you haven’t had them trimmed in a couple years. With our summer thunderstorms and all those heavy leaves, unstable branches are just asking for trouble.
Keep checking your gutters during rainstorms to prevent water damage. Clear out any debris from gutters, area drains, and window wells that accumulates.
Pull weeds and clean up your spring flower beds once those early bloomers are done. Get rid of wilted leaves and dead plants to make room for your late-summer color.
Now that your azaleas have finished blooming, you can finally prune them along with camellias and rhododendrons.
Swap out those pansies for heat-loving annuals. We’re talking zinnias, marigolds, vinca – plants that can handle Georgia’s brutal summer heat and humidity. Your local garden center can point you toward the best options for full sun or shade.
Water, water, water! Keep your lawn, beds, and containers hydrated as temperatures climb. Just don’t water in the middle of the day – wait until early evening when it cools down a bit.
The Mosquito Battle:
Let’s be real – mosquitoes are a huge issue in metro Georgia during summer. They breed in standing water, and I mean ANY standing water. Check everywhere: wheelbarrows, flower pots, buckets, watering cans, garbage cans, kids’ toys, and yes, even that little bit of water sitting in your gutter drains.
Store as much as you can in your garage or shed. For water that has to stay outside (like bird baths), use Mosquito Dunks for larvae or Mosquito Bits for adults. Drop some dunks in your gutter drains. And definitely stock up on citronella candles for those evenings on the patio!
If you haven’t already, get a pest control service lined up. Summer means more spiders and unfortunately, rats too. Keep your garbage sealed tight and don’t let debris pile up.
Mow regularly and keep your grass short to help prevent ticks – they love hanging out in tall grass and leaf piles. Always check yourself, your kids, and your pets after being outside.
Fall (September through early November)
Fall in Georgia is absolutely gorgeous, but it’s also prime time for outdoor maintenance. You want to get your home ready before winter weather rolls in.
Fall Must-Dos:
Clean your gutters and downspouts multiple times as leaves fall. Depending on your trees, you might need to do this every few weeks. Clogged gutters can cause serious water damage any time of year.
If you’ve got area drains in your yard or near doors, keep those clear too.
Double-check that your gutters are directing water away from your house and downhill. Watch them during rainstorms to catch any problems early.
Have someone inspect your roof for damaged shingles and check the seals around vents and your chimney.
Seal any foundation cracks to keep mice from getting inside as the weather cools.
Check your driveway for cracks and seal them now before winter makes them worse.
Don’t let leaves pile up – rake regularly so you’re not stuck with one massive job at the end of the season. Check with your city or county about their leaf pickup schedule and requirements.
Pull out dead summer annuals and do some weeding in your beds.
Prune shrubs before they go dormant for winter. Cut back perennials and divide or transplant them if needed.
Aerate, fertilize, and overseed your lawn in early fall – this is actually the best time for lawn care in Georgia.
Plant spring bulbs now – think tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths for next year. Perennials are a smart investment since they come back year after year with less work.
Have a professional trim any tree branches hanging too close to your house or power lines. Better to deal with it now than during a storm.
As temperatures drop, drain and store your garden hoses inside.
Clean and cover your outdoor furniture, or bring it inside if you have room.
Protect sensitive plants like roses, and stake young trees or shrubs that might need support.
Winter (Late November through early March)
Winter in Georgia can be unpredictable. We might get an ice storm one week and 60-degree weather the next. Either way, harsh weather can damage your home’s exterior, so get these tasks done by early December.
Winter Prep:
Make absolutely sure your gutters and downspouts are completely cleaned out before cold weather arrives. If they’re clogged and water freezes, they can pull away from your house. This causes major water damage that’s expensive to fix.
If we do get snow or ice, remove it from your roof as quickly as possible to prevent ice dams.
Trim tree branches near your house or power lines. Ice storms can bring down dead limbs and cause power outages or damage your property.
Brush snow off nearby trees before the weight breaks branches that could hit your house or car.
Make sure your garden hoses are drained and stored inside.
Drain your outdoor faucets and winterize any in-ground sprinkler systems. Seriously, don’t skip this – burst pipes inside your walls are a nightmare. There are plenty of YouTube videos showing how easy this is to do yourself.
Cover or store your outdoor furniture and bring sensitive potted plants inside.
Seal foundation cracks to prevent mice from moving in for the winter.
Stock up on pet-friendly salt or deicing treatments for your walkways, driveway, and porch. Composite decks can get especially slippery when ice forms, so be extra careful!
Use winter downtime to catch up on any maintenance you missed during the year and start planning for spring.
Hopefully this guide helps you stay on top of everything! Your home will thank you, and so will your wallet.
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