When it comes to preparing your outdoor space for the winter, it can seem a little bit daunting. What do you put away? What do you leave out? It can be hard to know where to begin. We’ve broken it down into two sections: yard and virtually everything else to give you a great place to begin prepping your yard for those frigid winter months.
Lawn & Landscape Essentials
- Fertilize your lawn before the first frost — This gives your grass essential nutrients to strengthen roots and helps it bounce back healthier in spring.
- Rake up most of the leaves before the first big snowfall — Dead leaves can trap moisture and lead to mould or damage the grass if left too long.
- Aerate the soil — This allows water, nutrients, and oxygen to penetrate deeper, setting up your lawn for healthy growth when the weather warms up.
The Final Touches: Winter-Ready Checklist
Ok, now that you’ve taken care of your lawn, you can move on to the everything else part of prepping your yard for the winter.
Here are a few things to put on your to-do list:
- Put a tarp over furniture and tie it all up securely or move it into a dry, sheltered place like your garage (at the bare minimum, move couch cushions). Check out some furniture cover options to make it even easier
- If you have a furry friend that uses a dog house, be sure that it’s properly winterized
- Protect natural wood decking and fencing: Apply a water guard protectant to help your wood surfaces resist moisture damage from snow and ice, keeping them strong and looking great through the winter months. Check out some options here.
- Clear a path to any smoker or barbecue if you plan on grilling during the winter months
- Clean the gutters, follow these 4 easy steps.
- Cover outdoor spigots and don’t forget to shut off the valve to your outdoor hose as well. This will help prevent freezing and avoid pipes bursting, keeping your outdoor space safe from winter damage.
- Get any winter gear like shovels or a snow blower out and within easy access (you never know when the first snowfall will come)
- Go to the store and purchase salt for your front steps and driveway
- If you have bird feeders, make sure they’re topped off
- If you have a pool, winterize it or have a local company do it for you
- Chemicals should be fine, but to be sure, check the labels for safe storage temperatures of items you might have in the shed or garage that need to be moved indoors
GENERAL TIPS
- Take into consideration your local weather during the colder months when planning for the winter
- Get your prep work done ahead of time
- Have a friend or family member help you get it done
