This post is sponsored by The home Depot and affiliate links are added within the post.

 

Each year, when the rain settles down, I get excited to work in my front yard and prep it for the summer.  I like to focus on getting my windows cleaned and putting in fresh garden beds.  I am partnering with The Home Depot to show some simple and inexpensive ways to add some summertime refresh to your home.

Window Cleaning 

Window cleaning is a must for us here in Utah.  We are coming out of many months of snow and rain, so my windows always need a good clean.  Recently I discovered this amazing product called Windex Streak Free Shine Outdoor, from SC Johnson.  I have used Windex for years, but there is something extra amazing about this one.  You can clean outside windows with just your garden hose!  It is the perfect solution for me and my tall windows. 

Garden Beds

I have a small garden bed on my front walkway that I like to add new flowers to each year.  Before I purchase new flowers, I take an assessment of what I have, what is growing well, and new spaces I want filled.  I take some notes and bring my ideas with me to The Home Depot.

Shopping

After assessing what I needed, I was ready to head to The Home Depot and get my supplies. My budget was $150. I wanted my window product, flowers, soil and flower food within that price. I love to give myself a budget to work with before I go in so I don’t get carried away.

Window cleaner was my first stop.  At my local Home Depot, the cleaning products are on isle number 5.  If you want to purchase this online you can buy it here. 

They have lots of Windex products, so you want to look for the one with the hose adaptation to it. It’s roughly $8-9, but right now it is on sale!  You can purchase it online here. 

The best part about this outdoor window cleaner from Windex is how easy it is to use and the super low cost.  I was so excited to try it out!

After that I headed to the garden center. There are so many options there. Shrubs, perennials, annuals, and pre-made baskets. If you have any questions about flowers, just grab an employee in the garden station, they are so helpful. 

I picked up some annuals and perennials, compost, plant food, and my Windex Outdoor Cleaner.

The plants I grabbed were Zinnias, Cala Lillies, Marigolds, Petunias, Dipladena, Dalias, Day Lillies, and Tickseed plants.

Window Work

Before I planted all my flowers, I wanted the windows done.  You can use the Windex Outdoor cleaner with plants in the ground and it will not hurt them, but I wanted to do this step first.  The process with the Outdoor Windex is super simple.  You will first screw your hose into the red nasal, and take out the yellow cap.

Then follow the instructions on the back, but for best results apply suds from bottom to top of your window (lots of detailed directions on the back of the packaging my friends!). 

1. Rinse windows (set dial to rinse)
2. Clean windows (set dial to clean)
3. Let sit for no longer than 20 seconds
4. Rinse windows well (set dial to rinse)

I wasn’t sure if would truly dry well without me busting out the squeegee – but they REALLY DID!  I was beyond please with it.  Spray on, spray off – it’s that easy! 

Something I was really impressed with is how far the solution went. I washed 6 windows and there was still so much solution left in the bottle. Additionally, the stream went super far. I had no problem getting the water to reach the tall windows on my house.  I will for sure be using this again to clean my windows – huge win for me!

Plan Out Flowers

I like to set out my flowers in the garden bed first, then move them around as needed. This helps me get a vision of how it will mature together. I am not a professional gardener, so I just study the internet to learn about plants and placements.  You can ask a lot of questions to local gardeners and the Home Depot employees in the garden department.

Plant Flowers

Grab your gloves and trowel and get started! Dig the appropriate depths for your plant (it will say this on the plant tag) and water immediately. Sometimes they look sad because they are in shock, but they will perk up. I added planting spoil and plant food as I went.

Additionally I planted my own baskets for the front steps.  I used the same flowers I added into the front garden bed. 

All of this took me the afternoon, and I was delighted with my simple refresh. I loved partnering with The Home Depot and Windex to share these simple ideas with you. Good luck prepping for summertime and make sure to gran your Windex Outdoor cleaner right here!

Kelly