Prepare Your Outdoors for Winter

It’s important to rid your yard of fallen leaves before winter. Left on your lawn, leaves can smother and kill the grass. Rake up the last of fall’s leaves and bag them for disposal. You can also use a mulching mower instead of a rake. It’s also important to trim any trees to remove any dead or too-long branches. Use a hand saw to saw off branches that are dead, infested with termites or that have grown too close to power lines and pose a safety threat. Two-handed loppers work well for smaller branches. Always cut away from yourself so the branch does not fall toward you.

Safety Alert!

Make sure to wear safety goggles when working with a hand saw or loppers.

Do what you can to keep winter weather from damaging your pipes and plumbing. Disconnect and drain garden hoses, storing them inside before the onset of winter. After you turn off the water supply at the shutoff valve inside the house, open the outdoor spigot to drain any remaining water from the line. Finally, cover faucets with a faucet cover. If you don’t have faucet covers, you can wrap a cloth, rag or trash bag around the faucet and secure with duct tape.

Winter weather can ruin your patio furniture. If you have the space, store patio furniture in the garage, basement or other protected area. If that’s not an option, invest in furniture covers that are made to withstand the harsh winter weather. Before you store or cover anything, clean your furniture properly. Wipe each piece with damp cloths and dry with towels. Remove cushions and pillows, following the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions. And if you don’t plan on grilling during the winter, you may also want to cover your grill and store it out of the elements.

Bring non-native plants inside before the temperature drops below 50°F. Inspect plants for insects before you bring them into the house. If necessary, treat your potted plants for infestation and diseases. Spraying plants with water and letting them dry will also help get rid of any pests before you bring the plants inside.

Good work! Now your home and yard is protected against damaging winter weather.