Here are some great tips for getting ready for summer...before the hottest days of the year descend upon us. 

Shade trees and landscaping: Planting shade trees in your yard is a great way to cut down on the heat inside your home. Check with a local nursery for suggestions on types of trees. In addition, plant a shade tree next to your air conditioner's outside unit as the extra shade will help it run more efficiently.

Gardening equipment: Get your lawn mower tuned up by a lawn mower mechanic and also take inventory of all lawn and gardening equipment, including hoses and sprinklers. If anything needs to be replaced, now's the time to do it.

Get your patio and play-areas ready: Things like Super Soakers, floats and badminton nets may actually be much harder to find come mid-summer when the demand is higher. Also, now is a good time to take a good look at your patio furniture and barbecue. If they need to be cleaned or replaced, options on these products can become minimal, and even more expensive, once the weather gets hotter.

A/C: It is so important to have your air conditioner in perfect working order before the summer peak. Taking care of any issues during the summer can potentially result in an increase in price, as well as an increase in the time it takes for a technician to visit your home. In addition to making sure your air conditioner is in perfect working order, now is a good time to replace any filters. Simply remove the old one and take it to your local home improvement center. Sales representatives should have no problem finding its replacement.