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1:00 AM 11th January 2025
lifestyle

Ultimate 2025 Home & Garden Checklist

A new year has arrived, and with it a new chance to get your home in the best shape possible. While this can feel overwhelming, property experts advise picking a job per month to keep the maintenance manageable.

To help you out, MyBuilder.com have put together a handy checklist to keep you on track in 2025. Carefully selecting the most appropriate task each month, the calendar is designed to guide you to achieving all the tasks you need to complete in your home and garden.

From the best time of year to get your boiler serviced, to the optimum time to paint, the checklist breaks up jobs into manageable - and affordable - chunks.

Building and trades expert Andy Simms, from MyBuilder.com, said that the guide has been prepared with consideration to time and budget limitations.

“We all have busy lives, and it can be easy to let jobs stack up until they feel insurmountable.

“The key to getting it sorted is to choose one focus per month, allowing home and garden maintenance to feel achievable and affordable.

“It's also important to bear in mind when is the best time to prioritise certain jobs. For example, our data shows that boiler maintenance professionals get really busy by October, so get ahead of the curve by making this the task for September.

“Similarly, we know that builders book ahead by a long period, so start planning well in advance to ensure you don't miss out on your preferred tradesmen.

“By taking this approach, you can achieve great results in your home and garden, without it taking over your lives - and your wallet.”

The MyBuilder.com Home and Garden checklist is as follows:

HOME


January

Book in your builder. January is often the time to plan ahead for the year - but is often also the time where your bank balance has taken a battering! Use this time to lock in a builder for any work you need on your home in 2025. Getting quotes and booking in costs you nothing - and means you’ll likely be able to secure the tradesperson you want, before they get too busy.

February

Roof maintenance. Winter can be hard on your roof, especially if snow has fallen or there have been strong winds. Your roof is essential to the structure of your home, and if there are loose tiles or holes anywhere, it can cause serious damage elsewhere. The end of winter is a good time to give your roof the once over in advance of the year ahead.

March

The Big Clean. It might be stereotypical, but March really is a great time to do that Spring clean. Use this time to declutter, deep clean your home, and prepare for the warmer months ahead. Once you’ve rid yourself of clutter, consider your storage capacity and book in a carpenter for any clever storage solutions.

April

Prepare for pests. Pests can be a pesky problem any time of the year, but wasps, ants and flying insects start to be an issue when the weather warms up. Get ahead of the curve and inspect your home for any weak spots - such as gappy windows and doors, or brickwork that needs re-pointing - and seal them off.

May

Get garden-ready. The warmer weather should now be on its way, so use this month to get your outside living areas up to scratch. Concentrate on sprucing up any patios, outside dining spaces, or seating areas, and get any wooden garden furniture treated and repaired ahead of use.

June

Plastering. Plastering in May works well because the moderate spring temperatures and lower humidity levels allow the plaster to dry gradually, reducing the risk of cracking. Make sure your plaster work is up to scratch before any painting jobs.

July

Painting. Warm temperatures and low humidity provide optimal conditions for the paint to dry properly. Cold or damp conditions in winter can cause paint to dry slower and unevenly.

August

Floor work. Dirty carpets or scratched flooring can really drag down the appearance of your home, but is easy to overlook or neglect. Use the summer period where you are outside a lot to concentrate on getting your carpets cleaned, or your hard floors sanded and polished.

September

Annual Boiler Service. Stop problems before they start - keeping your boiler well maintained can extend its life while keeping it running at optimum performance - saving you money on bills. MyBuilder data shows that boiler maintenance specialists are busiest after September, so get them booked in early.

October

Security Lighting. The nights will now be getting longer, and with burglary most prevalent in winter months, focus on your outside lighting. Motion sensor lighting is great for security but also practical for residents when they return home in the dark.

November

Chimney sweep. It’s now time to light your fire - but get a chimney sweep in first. Neglecting to get this done can cause unpleasant and sometimes dangerous fumes to come back into your house. It can also raise your risk of chimney fires.

December

Book a handyman. Many of us will be preparing our homes for guests for the holiday season - so why not conduct a quick inspection of your home and book in tradespeople for those niggling issues you haven’t managed to get round to. From leaky taps to wonky shelving, get someone in to get your house ending the year looking perfect.

GARDEN

January


Tree Surgeon. Winter is the best time to get your trees in great shape, with minimal disruption to nature while giving the best visibility of any issues.

February

Hedge trimming. As with trees, sorting your hedges in winter causes less disruption to nature. It is also illegal to trim some hedges during the nesting period, which is listed as March until August.

March

First mow. Spring is emerging and with it, the grass! Your first mow should generally be in mid March, checking for animals or debris first, and keeping on a longer length to start.

April

Patio preparation. Summer is just around the corner, and with it comes outside living! Get your patio or outside areas cleaned up with a good jet wash, sand, or stain, and de-weed those gaps.

May

Get planting. While some seeds may need to go in early, many summer flowers will need planting in May. Seeds planted now should see your flowers in full bloom in peak summer months.

June

Water your garden. With summer finally here, temperatures will be rising. Make sure you concentrate on watering your garden and lawn, especially if you’ve laid new turf or grass seeds, or planted bulbs.

July

Maintenance. July should see your garden in full bloom, time to enjoy! However, maintenance is key in this peak summer month. Keep watering, weeding, and collect up any vegetables or fruit you have grown.

August

Check for sun-related damage. With warmer weather comes garden items such as paddling pools, swimming pools, and garden furniture. These items can kill off your grass in a matter of days if they aren’t regularly moved. Matting underneath won’t help - the only option is to regularly rotate where you place these items - or better still, have them on a hard-standing area such as a patio.

September

Fallen fruit. Sometimes our fruit trees provide more than we can consume - but don’t be tempted to let it rot on the floor. While it’s obviously unsightly and sometimes smelly, it can also attract pests, create new saplings, and damage existing trees and plants. Pick up your fruits and dispose of what you can’t use.

October

Pack up and prepare for winter. The nights are drawing in and the temperature is dropping, so get your garden ready for the colder months ahead. Pack away furniture and equipment, protect your plants, and check your shed for any damage.

November

Remove leaves. The end of Autumn is upon us, and leaf fall should be dwindling. Use this month to rake up and remove leaves from your lawn, to prevent damage. Also, it’s vital to remove leaf build up from your guttering - if you don’t, you face leaks and you can even be invalidating your home insurance.

December

Protect against the freeze. Frosty weather is likely occurring, and we will be seeing freezing temperatures soon. Protect your plants, ponds, and lawn from the elements - and insulate any outside taps or pipes to prevent frozen pipes and potential bursts.