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There's a briskness in the air and winter is rapidly approaching, but is your home ready for the return of cold weather this year? We've created a list of things you should do before frost settles in so you can be sure you're prepared for winter.
Read this guide to get tips on how to prepare your yard, home and car for winter. Putting the time and energy in now will prevent you from having to deal with potential hassles caused by the change of seasons. These tips will also help you save on your heating bill!
Prepare your yard
- Service Weather-Specific Equipment
- Tune-up or service snow blowers
- Replace old and worn rakes and snow shovels
- Sharpen ice choppers and buy bags of ice-melt / sand
- Buy extra bags of rock salt
- Clean, dry and store summer gardening equipment
- Drain gas from lawnmowers
- Aerate
- Use an aerator to allow air to reach the grass stems. This will prevent them from dying and creating ugly patches on your lawn.
- Fertilize and Reseed
- Late October is the best time to fertilize and reseed your lawn to keep it strong through the freezing weather. As winter comes, your grass will need good fertilizer to grow deeper roots so it can withstand the cold weather.
- Reseeding your lawn before winter will not only protect it against the cold, but it will also ensure strong healthy grow at the beginning of spring.
- Prune
- Pruning after the leaves turn and plants are dormant is important to encourage healthy growth in spring.
- Trim tree branches that hang too close to the house or electrical wires.
- Protect Cold-Sensitive Plants
- Protect plants that have experienced frost damage in the past by spreading a layer of mulch around the base of plants before the temperature dips down to provide insulation for the winter. Wait until spring to fertilize shrubs and trees.
- Relocate cold-sensitive plants by potting them and moving them indoors. While your lawn and larger trees will survive the winter cold, bulb flowers and other plants are far more delicate and will die if left out during the winter season.
- Keep Lawn Cut Short And Water Frequently
- Cut grass short to prevent it from drying out and dying as the weather gets colder.
- Be sure to water the lawn regularly.
- Remove Any Debris And Clean Gutters
- Remove debris, such as dead leaves and rocks, from your lawn. Any debris left on your lawn during the cold season may smother and kill your grass.
- Clean all exterior gutters using the Craftsman Gutter Cleaning Accessory Kit.
- Consider installing leaf guards on the gutters or extensions on the downspouts to direct water away from the home.
- Seal Driveways, Brick Patios And Wood Decks.
- Cold weather is tough on walkways and patios. Shifts in temperature and humidity can cause concrete and brick to heave and settle unevenly.
- Keeping them free of water build-up and debris will reduce the chances of winter damage. If you noticed water or ice accumulation last winter, take steps now to provide proper drainage. This can be as simple as adding a small gravel drainage channel next to a walkway, or fixing a gutter that drips onto steps.
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