In the warmer months your home’s outdoor space is just as important as the rooms inside, especially if your family spends a lot of time outside.

Be it your yard, garden, deck, or patio, there are steps you can take to prep these spaces for a fun and safe season.

Mosquitos aren’t just a pesky deterrent from outdoor living; they can carry and transmit dangerous viruses, such as West Nile. Make eating, entertaining and enjoying your yard safer and more pleasant by preemptively striking back.

Rather than applying sprays and lotions each time you go outside, consider a natural alternative. For example, Terminix ALLCLEAR, safe for kids and pets, provides a line of backyard misters and mosquito repellers that are proven effective.  In fact, the Terminex ALLCLEAR Sidekick has been shown to reduce mosquito bites by over 92 percent when used as directed.

 These systems are also sleekly designed to match your outdoor décor.

You can also limit your skin exposure with long sleeves and pants. Pick breathable fabrics in light colors to prevent overheating.

Mowing, watering and hedging can be time consuming, thus preventing you from enjoying your time outside. And knowing what your plants and lawn need to stay looking beautiful can be a complex science.

If outsourcing your lawn care sounds expensive, consider this: The retail price you pay for quality equipment and products won’t come cheap. 

An expert can help you save both time and money by customizing a lawn care plan based on your climate, soil condition, grass type and lawn usage to meet the needs of your home. An expert can also survey your trees and shrubs to inspect for pests.

Nothing beats an outdoor barbecue or roasting marshmallows around a fire with friends and family. But both involve safety risks. Reduce these risks by using lighter fluid sparingly and positioning your grill or fire pit several feet away from any structure. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby during barbecuing and marshmallow roasting nights.

In the event you do experience a fire, there are some dos and don’ts to protect your home. If the siding of your home is damaged by smoke, don’t attempt to clean it yourself. Incorrect cleaning could compound the soot residue. Don’t touch anything with your bare hands. Oil from your hands can permeate walls and woodwork, causing additional damage.

Corrosive by-products can cause irreversible etching in as few as 72 hours, so it’s important to call for professional help as soon as possible. Look for a specialist, such as ServiceMaster Clean, a market leader in fire damage restoration and cleaning.

For more information and tips on pest prevention, lawn care and fire damage restoration, visit www.ServiceMaster.com.

A happy, healthy home is not complete without a happy, healthy outdoor space. Make the most of yours this season.  

—StatePoint