Sweater weather is upon us! Fall is officially here and the weather is changing. It’s a great time of year: the leaves change colors, pumpkin-flavored-everything is available, and it’s the time to get lost in a corn maze. Between carving pumpkins and sipping hot chocolate, get your home ready for Fall with these nine easy tips.
Remove leaves, nests and debris from your gutters and check for leaks.
If you're in the Boise area, or an even colder climate, you should plan on having your sprinkler system drained or blown-out to prevent freezing and damage. However, even in warmer climates, all irrigation systems should be checked this time of year. Have a professional perform any repairs that might need to be made and mark your sprinkler heads near snow removal areas.
Disconnect and drain garden hoses. Leaving them connected during a freeze could cause pipes to freeze and burst - I learned this the hard way one spring.
Cut back your bushes, shrubs and flowers. Inspect your trees and cut back any branches that are hanging over a power line or are close to the roof.
This is often overlooked, but a high phosphorous fall lawn fertilizer can help produce a lush, green lawn in the spring.
If you're burning wood in your fireplace or wood-stove, it's a good idea to have your chimney cleaned annually.
Speaking of wood, do you need to order some for the winter?
If your house has Crawl-Space vents, closing (or plugging) them during the winter helps prevent the pipes from freezing.
Now is a great time to organize your shed and get it ready for next Spring. Remove any liquids that might freeze during the winter.
These is an easy chore to put off, and can be done in the spring, but getting your garden tools ready now will make for an easier spring. As an added incentive, repair shops are less busy at this time of year, and may actually be offering discounts.
That’s it! In one weekend you can knock out most of these chores and spend the rest of your Fall doing what you love to do.