Save the Date: Mailbox Improvement Week

May is such a busy month with Mother's Day, the end of the school year, graduations, first communions, weddings...the list goes on. But there's one more important event that you may not have marked on your calendars - Mailbox Improvement Week!

The US Postal Service has dubbed the third week of May "Mailbox Improvement Week" s a reminder that our mailboxes should be in good working order. Some of the typical things that may need to be done are to replace loose hinges on a mailbox door, remount a mailbox post if loosened, replace or add house numbers, repaint a mailbox that is rusted or starting to peel, or cover it with a MailWraps magnetic mailbox cover ;-).

Not to Be Taken Lightly

Believe it or not, the mailbox has often been the most overlooked decorating possibility in outdoor décor. I spent about an hour last week driving around and taking pictures of maiboxes near our office in St. Louis, and I decided that maybe this Mailbox Improvement Week isn't such a bad idea!

Here are some mailboxes I found that could benefit from some "improvement"...

 

This mailbox is holding on for dear life.  Thank goodness for the bungee cord!

 

The house shape of this mailbox is really cute.....but a front door would really keep those much anticipated Pottery Barn catalogs from getting wet!

 

The height of the mailbox should be 42 inches from the street to the bottom of the mailbox. Looks like this one falls a little short!

 

Really? This one pretty much speaks for itself.

Beyond the Repairs

If you spend your Saturday mornings watching HGTV and making lists of plants to buy at your local nursery like me, you know that mailbox improvement doesn't end with the repairs. A great way to give your mailbox "curb appeal" is to plant a flower bed around it.

 

What better way to welcome friends and neighbors than with a beautifully decorated mailbox.

Since typically the mailbox is exposed to the sun and street, it is best to choose plants that are drought resistant, require a lot of sun, and won’t obstruct the mailbox by growing too tall.  Better Homes and Gardens has great ideas about how to make your mailbox the envy of the neighborhood. Here you can find mailbox garden plans that show you exactly what to buy and where to plant it.

So mark your calendars and decide what you will do this year to celebrate Mailbox Improvement Week!  We'd love to see your "before" and "after" photos.  Feel free to email them to us (magnetworks@magnetworks.com) or post them on our Facebook Page.

- Sue Todd, Studio M Co-Owner

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