When you buy a house, you’re not just buying the house. You’re buying the property around the house as well. For some people, that may consist of a small front yard and nothing else. Other home owners will purchase several acres of property adjacent to the structure in which they’ll be living. You’ll be responsible for that property year-round, from the peak of summer to the dead of winter. It’s a big job, and you can’t neglect it. Neglecting your property could violate local zoning ordinances, which means you could be ticketed if you don’t keep things up to snuff. If you bought property in an area overseen by a homeowners association, you could also end up running afoul of those regulations. In extreme cases, homeowners associations, or HOAs, have been able to place liens on houses because the property owners broke some sort of rule.
You should be able to keep your lawn mowed on a regular basis. You can hire a landscaping company if you’re unwilling or unable to do it yourself. You should also follow local regulations regarding the watering of your lawn. Some regulations may require you to water it regularly, but other cities, especially in drought-stricken areas like California, will limit the amount of watering you can do. Just running the sprinkler at the wrong time could be some sort of municipal violation.
Planting a garden
There’s something quite enticing about the idea of planting a garden. It makes you feel like you’re creating and nurturing something of your very own. First, you should look at plants that do well in your particular area. Thinking of planting corn? You should make sure your soil is a place where corn can thrive. You don’t have to use a garden to grow fruits and vegetables, either. Some people prefer to grow flowers and other decorative plants that can’t be served at the dinner table. It’s up to you decide how much time you want to spend on your garden. Some people have hours a week to devote to weeding and trimming, while others will want some seeds that don’t require you to do much besides stick them in the ground and leave them to their own devices.
When storms strike
That old pine tree in your front yard may look pretty, but it could be a real hazard if a major thunderstorm blows through your area. If your tree suffers significant storm damage, you may be tempted to just yank it out and get rid of it, but it’s worth checking with a local tree expert first to see if the tree can be saved. If the damage is minor, it is easy enough to learn how to trim a tree and do it yourself.
There’s nothing that says you have to wait for a storm before you act, either. If you’re worried about a particular tree, call someone out to look at it when the weather is great. It’s better to know for sure than to look at the tree nervously every time a stiff wind comes through.
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