How To Prepare Your Yard For Cold Weather

It’s getting close to the season for hanging holiday lights, stringing garland, and filling your home with your favorite seasonal decorations. Before you go crazy decking your home’s exterior with holiday cheer, make sure you don’t forget about a few important maintenance must-dos that will protect your lawn long past the holiday season.

Get Rid of The Leaves

If you haven’t been diligently keeping up with the beautiful fallen leaves over the course of the autumn season, your yard is likely now filled with brown leaves. Before you get your lawn ready for the cold winter months, rake and discard the debris that has accumulated in your yard.  After building a leaf pile for your kids to jump in, be sure to check your neighborhood’s rules for leaf removal.  Some neighborhoods require you to bag your leaves, while others just require you to rake your leaves to the curb.  

Mow Your Yard

Because this fall was pretty mild, you may need to trim your yard one final time before saying goodbye to your lawn mower for the next few months. To prepare for the upcoming cold season, give your yard a low cut so it will be ready for the winter months.  

Aerate Your Lawn

Before the first frost of the year hits, it's a good idea to aerate and fertilize your lawn. It may seem strange to feed your lawn before it goes dormant for winter, but a fall application of fertilizer can protect your lawn over the cold months and help it look healthier come spring! Choose a fertilizer designed for fall feeding, and apply a thin layer evenly to the lawn a few weeks before the ground freezes.

Prep Your Garden

If you have a garden, it is a great idea to start thinking ahead and plant for spring! Plant bulbs in November, as soon as the soil has cooled down. If you’ve never planted bulbs before, select a spot in your yard that gets full sun during the day.  Lillies or Tulips are great fall bulbs that will bloom in the spring. You should also consider laying new mulch and weeding. This will cut your spring gardening time in half! The more you are able to take care of in the fall, the less you will have to do in the spring!

Drain Your Sprinkler Systems

Make sure you drain and switch off your sprinkler system, hoses, and outdoor faucets before freezing temperatures strike! Doing this will prevent permanent damage to your systems. Drain hoses and store them in the shed, garage, or basement until spring, and consider covering outdoor taps with foam pipe insulators or foam faucet covers for added protection!

Clean Out Your Gutters

The last thing you want in the middle of winter is frozen gutters. Allow them to do their job by making sure they’re cleaned out for the season.  Be sure to remove all leaves that could prevent a potential clog and then rinse the gutter with water. Can’t reach the buried spaces? Hire a professional to help you get your gutters winter-ready.

Once you’ve completed these easy yard maintenance tasks, your outdoor space should be prepped and ready for a little hibernation, whether it is covered by snow or a heavy frost, your yard should be ready for the cold season ahead of us!