Your First Spring as a Vermont Homeowner

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Key Takeaways:

• Mud season is a normal part of Vermont spring. Expect soft driveways and a few weeks of messy entryways.
• Walk your property after the thaw and check your foundation, roof, gutters, septic system, and well water.
• Your lawn is dormant, not dead. Give it time and avoid heavy work on waterlogged soil.
• Open the windows and enjoy the fresh air, but expect Asian lady beetles and other overwintering bugs to make an appearance.
• Your real estate agent is still a resource after closing for contractor referrals, value questions, and local knowledge.

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You made it through your first Vermont winter. The woodpile is low, the driveway is soft, and the snow is pulling back to reveal a yard you may not recognize. Welcome to your first Vermont spring. Equal parts beautiful and bewildering, here are a few things worth knowing.

Whether you just closed or you’re still house hunting, this is what spring looks like when you own a piece of the Green Mountain State.

Mud Season Is Real

If you moved here from out of state, you probably heard people reference “mud season” and assumed it was exaggerated. It isn’t. 

As frost leaves the ground, dirt roads and driveways turn soft. Your driveway may develop ruts or soft spots that weren’t there in January. This is totally normal, but most gravel driveways need grading once the ground firms up, usually by mid-May. If yours is steep or long, get on a local excavator’s schedule early because they book up fast.

Mud season also means boots. Good ones. Keep a pair by every door and accept that your entryway will look like a construction zone for the next few weeks!

What to Check After the Thaw

Winter is hard on Vermont homes. Once the snow melts, walk your property and check a few things:

Foundation and basement - Frost heaves can shift the ground around your foundation. Look for new cracks and check your basement for moisture. A damp basement in April isn’t necessarily trouble, but pooling water or a new crack warrants a contractor’s opinion.

Roof and gutters - Ice dams can do real damage over a Vermont winter. Scan your roofline for missing or lifted shingles and clean out your gutters. Icicles along the eaves last season? That’s a sign of attic heat loss worth addressing before next winter. Call Efficiency Vermont to schedule a free energy consult and learn about next steps for an energy audit which can help identify any problems with heat loss.

Septic system - If your home is on septic, note where your leach field is and keep heavy equipment off it as the ground softens. It’s time to schedule a pump out if it hasn’t been emptied in a few years.

Well water - Spring runoff can affect water quality, so now is a good time to test for quality. 

Exterior surfaces - Check siding, trim, and paint for peeling or damage. Vermont’s freeze-thaw cycles are tough on exteriors. Catching small issues now saves bigger repairs later.

Your Yard Is Waking Up

That brown, flat lawn? It isn’t dead,  it’s just coming out of dormancy. Give it a few weeks of warmer temperatures and rain and don’t rush it. Walking on waterlogged soil compacts it, and mowing before the ground firms up tears turf. Once things dry out, a light raking removes dead grass and lets sunlight reach the soil.

Late April is a good time to clean up branches and rake matted leaves. If you bought in fall or winter, spring will introduce you to whatever the previous owners planted. Perennial gardens, rhubarb, or invasive species are most likely present, so take note of what comes up and where. It will help you plan for the growing season.

Check trees and shrubs for winter damage. Broken limbs should be pruned before new growth starts. If you have fruit trees, late April is a good window for a first pruning, though anything major is worth discussing with an arborist (or your community on Front Porch Forum!).

Thinking about landscaping? Native Vermont plants are your best bet. They’re adapted to the climate, support pollinators, and need far less maintenance. A local nursery can help you plan based on soil, sun, and how much time you want to spend in the garden.

Even if you don’t have a green thumb, the blooming of your yard will make you celebrate every spring shower, even if it comes with a boot full of mud.

The Spring Welcome Committee

Your heating bill is about to drop, and it will feel incredible. After months of watching oil, propane, or pellet levels like a hawk, spring is when you stop doing mental math every time the furnace kicks on. That first low bill is one of the real rewards of a Vermont spring.

Open the windows and let the fresh air in. After months sealed-up, dry-air living, a breeze on a 55-degree afternoon is hard to beat. But be ready: you are not the only one who’s been waiting for warm weather. Asian lady beetles, stink bugs, boxelder bugs, wasps and cluster flies have been hiding in your walls and attic all winter. As the house warms, they’ll show up on windowsills and light fixtures. This isn’t a sign something is wrong with your home, this is just spring in Vermont. A vacuum and patience will get you through.

There’s also the bears. While our black bear population isn’t as large or terrifying as western grizzlies, they are still dangerous. Black bears coming out of hibernation are on the search for food after a long and cold winter. A half eaten pizza in a plastic garbage tote delivers significantly more calories than a berry patch. Secure your trash and bring in your bird feeders. Bird seed is also an easy score for black bears and will get them poking around your property. Wait a month or two before putting feeders back outside so you can sleep easier. Check out your town’s Facebook groups and Front Porch Forum for any sightings.

Between the bugs, the bears, and the driveway that needs grading, your first Vermont spring comes with a learning curve. The good news is you don't have to figure it all out alone.

You Still Have a Team

One thing new homeowners forget: your real estate agent doesn’t disappear after closing. Need a contractor recommendation? Curious how your home’s value is tracking? Our agents live in the communities we serve and are a resource long after closing day.

Settling into your first Vermont spring? Reach out to one of our agents. We’re always happy to help.