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🌤️ Spring backyard checkup: 9 things to inspect before you invite everyone over for the first cookout First warm weekend hits and suddenly everyone’s in the yard… until you notice the fence is leaning, the gate sticks, and the dog found a new escape route 🐶 Before you send that group text, here’s a quick spring backyard checkup we use around Illinois: ✅ Leaning or wobbly sections Give each fence section a firm push. If it sways, the posts may have shifted over winter. ✅ Rotten or cracked boards Look for soft spots at the bottom of wood pickets where snow and moisture sat longest. ✅ Gaps under the fence Check for washouts or digging that leave a “tunnel” for dogs or kids to slide under. ✅ Rusty or loose hardware Hinges, latches, and screws that rusted or backed out can make gates sag or pop open. ✅ Gate swing and latch test Open and close your gate 10 times. Does it latch every time without you lifting it? If not, it is time for a tune up. ✅ Privacy “peek points” Stand where your neighbors stand: deck, upstairs window, sidewalk 👀 Can they see straight into your hangout area? ✅ Pool or play area barriers If you have got a pool, trampoline, or playset, make sure the fence around it is solid and the gate self closes. ✅ Nails or screws sticking out Do a quick scan at kid and dog height for anything sharp catching clothes, paws, or skin. ✅ Overall curb appeal Step out front, look back at the yard as if you were a guest. Does the fence make the space feel inviting… or tired? If a couple of these got your attention, we’ve been doing “spring fence checks” for Illinois homeowners. Quick walkthrough, we point out anything we’d fix if it were our yard, and price only the sections that actually need work.