Spring brings storms that can pack some frustrating messes in the backyard. As March departs and May approaches, patios accumulate pollen, walkways become slick, and run-off from rain gives the outdoor space a neglected look. Spring-cleaned areas can become neglected high-maintenance areas after weeks of wet weather.
Spring storm season brings washing and maintenance of the backyard and storm season features to the homeowners who desire to spend time outside enjoying the weather. Features that are often washed by rain and dirt become the most troublesome to maintain. Paver retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, and walkways are the most troublesome features to maintain.
Getting Rid of the Pollen That Accumulates on Patios
The patio is often the center of the outdoor space. Patios are preferred during spring and summer. Patios become a family space for dining, rest, and entertaining guests. However, patios can become a poor looking space after a few weeks of rain.
The biggest frustration homeowners experience is the accumulation of pollen. In May, pollen settles on all outdoor surfaces, leaving a yellowish-green sticky film on concrete, stone, and plate pavers. When it rains and the pollen mixes with rain, it creates a film that makes the patio look dirty.
The mess outdoor furniture creates is inevitable. Cushions trap moisture, and leaves settle underneath chairs. Mud gets spread across surfaces. If your patio is near trees, flower beds, or other outdoor greenery, the mess will increase as decomposing leaves and organic matter add to the furnishings.
A lot of homeowners will tell you that standing water on a patio is another issue. If your patio has no slope, the water can stay on your patio for days, and mildew will grow. It will also create slippery, messy surfaces.
Uncontrolled Weed Growth Between Pavers
After spring storms, a lot of people complain that massive weed growth between patio pavers is the worst. Rain falls and in conjunction with the new daylight, weeds spread rapidly, especially along backyard walkways and between patio pavers.
Even gardeners who tend to their yards regularly year-round often have a losing battle with weeds during late spring. Storms wash new seeds into paver gaps and the moisture allows them to germinate seemingly overnight.
Weeding between pavers in a large outdoor space is a time-consuming, back-breaking chore. Some homeowners resort to pressure washing, while others use weed treatments or polymeric sand which make it harder for weeds to grow. But due to the environment, the problem renews itself throughout the season.
That is why many homeowners have begun to contact trusted paver sealing companies around Valrico to ease the hassle of continually maintaining their pavers. Proper sealing reduces water penetrating the space between the pavers thereby making it more difficult for weeds and moss to grow.
Hardscape Collect Moisture Marks and Damage
Hardscape structures can dry and cleaned up after destructive rains, but mud, mildew, and mold stains can be a persistent problem. Synthetic brick materials can leave long streaks, splotches, and dirt stains that are clearly visible and hard to remove.
On sloped flower beds, hardscape structures collect mud from flower beds. Rain transports mud to the structure. This leaves long, dark stains that eventually become permanent and hard to remove.
Algae and mush can easily grow on moisture. The problem is worse if the structure is shaded since the surface is damp for longer. The hardscape structure can become a green drippy surface.
Spring rains can sneak up on people and show how much a hardscape structure can be. Cleaning from the scrubbing, and using a pressure washer to check and repair drainage systems can become permanent.
Outdoor Galleries Need to Be Cleaned More Often
Outdoor galleries have become handy, but can need a lot more cleaning. Pollution, mud, and moisture can all combine to make setting a gallery a messy setting.
Rain and moisture can leave gunky messes on countertops, and can be even more messy if the outer kitchens are covered. Wind can carry rain to the kitchen.
Another frustrating issue is drainage for the sink or prep station in an outdoor kitchen. During a storm, debris will collect leaving the drainage unable to disperse water and causing outdoor insects to thrive or causing the wood to deteriorate.
An outdoor kitchen combined with paver patio will result in additional troubles with drainage causing muddy runoff to seep along the edges of the patio. This will require additional cleaning to be done before the area is ready for use to entertain guests once again.
Outdoor kitchens are a premium item in backyard landscaping and add value to the property. Homeowners will invest efforts to clean and maintain the outdoor kitchen and surrounding area to avoid unsightly stain and damage caused from the weather.
Walkways Become Slippery and Unsafe
Walkways appear to be the simplest to clean and maintain during dry weather, but walkway areas quickly become some of the most problematic during a spring storm. Excessive rainfall combined with a lack of sun creates the right condition for surfaces to become slippery.
Pavers collect dirt runoff along with leaves and pollen. This is even worse with mortarless pavers as paving leaves gaps in the surface to become even more porous. In addition to being a tripping concern, they are unsightly and even worse in a home.
Homeowners love to have nice looking backyards. Unfortunately, the aftermath of storms can make your yard unappealing. Keeping walkways looking nice can involve a lot of sweeping. Maintenance can be even more complicated, and many people opt for both pressure washing and sealing treatments.
Addressing the Issues Caused by Moisture
In the spring, the storms can be very damaging and very disruptive. The water can be damaging in so many ways. Water can make the color of surfaces like natural stone and concrete look bad, and they can eventually start to deteriorate.
Even more damaging, water can trap organic debris and mildew on surfaces by evaporating with the water trapped beneath the surface. This mildew can be bad for the surfaces and can eventually lead to premature deterioration of surfaces.
Thermal expansion can cause even more deterioration. Surfaces can expand and contract with water. Homeowners learn that surfaces require more maintenance because of the damage caused by the storm.
Helping to Maintain Sealed Surfaces
After dealing with the damage and disaster caused by storms, homeowners seal their pavers. Maintenance on surfaces can be reduced with sealing because it limits the moisture that can be absorbed by surfaces.
Surfaces that have been sealed can prevent water and contaminants from absorbing. When surfaces are sealed, they can be made to be easier to wash after the storms.
Another advantage of sealing is that it helps slow weed growth in between pavers. It limits the amount of moisture that can reach the joints, and while it won’t completely eliminate the need for maintenance, it helps reduce the amount of work and the number of cleanups that you need to do throughout the year.
For homeowners in Valrico, who are dealing with the moisture and staining problems of pavers, hiring a reputable paver sealing company is the ideal solution to easily manage their outdoor and indoor spaces.
The Never Ending Cycle of Backyard Maintenance after Spring
Spring storms may last a couple of weeks, but a bad storm can make your pavers, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, and pathways look bad for months. The effects can be seen well into the summer months.
As the outdoor living space becomes part of the daily living of the household, there is a desire for the yard to be comfortable and inviting. While a clean space is inviting, it’s important to avoid the hassle by routinely managing landscaping upkeep.
Staying ahead of the moisture problem makes a big difference. Pavers, for instance, may need upkeep after every storm, but a smart maintenance strategy can be the easiest factor to keep the space fresh and inviting.
