How do I make my back yard nice? How do I keep up with an aging home?
by
Jean
We’ve had French drains put in because it was so wet when it rained. We had dirt put in for the low areas! We had plants and bushes planted nearly every year and most of them died! My husband and I both have medical problems and can’t work on it anymore! We still need some more dirt to fill it in! The only plants that we finall got to live are salt water resistant bushes, red top hedges, one little crepe myrtle and cannas and elephant ears! My husband put a pool in years ago and now my granddaughter had to pay to have it cleaned! A few years ago we finally put in new windows and the three in the dining room and two in the living room and underneath them everything is rotten and needs to be replaced! There is mold in the carpet in the master bedroom closet from rainwater Leaking in. That’s the main reason for the French drains!
Related Discussions
Suggested Project Book
Owning a home requires a lot of maintenance year round. And a pool needs weekly service to keep it in tip top shape. I have a schedule for all my chores and service appointments for the things I can't do myself, or just do not have the time or tools to do myself. I ran into a similar situation at the end of my parents lives as they were both ill, I lived 42 miles away (= 1+ hour drive each way), and worked 2 hours away. Every day my home, work, parents house and back home was 126 miles and a 16+ hour day. Weekends were more shuffling between their house, my house, errands and chores. Both houses fell into a lick and a promise type affair. After my mom passed, I got everything back on track, but it was not easy and in the middle, I was out of commission completely for 6 months due to a back surgery.
First make yourself a list of what HAS to be repaired and a list of what you want to do to fix up your yard. Then tackle one by one as funds permit.
Here are some comprehensive lists to get you started!
https://www.artofmanliness.com/articles/keep-your-house-in-tip-top-shape-an-incredibly-handy-home-maintenance-checklist/
https://www.bhg.com/home-improvement/advice/home-maintenance-checklist/
https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/maintenance-and-repair/repairing/checklist-for-a-trouble-free-home
https://templates.office.com/en-us/Home-maintenance-schedule-and-task-list-TM04068893
Could it be time to sell the home (as is) and move to an apartment? ...it sounds like you have your hands full --- and calling the maintenance man is way easier!!