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Last Updated on December 8, 2023
Winter is almost here, and with this comes some preparations that you need to make in order to make sure your backyard is well-prepped. If you want a quick guide on where to start and what to do, read on. The following are five ways to make sure your home and backyard will pass through the winter safely and successfully.
Drain Water Features and Cover Furniture
Water features include fountains, waterfalls, swimming pools, and hot tubs. With 17.12% of Americans aged between 18 and 29 owning a spa, pool, or hot tub, this is an important tip to consider. This is because any water left within water features will cause havoc when it freezes, costing you a lot of money to repair damage you could have avoided by either draining them yourself or calling an expert to do it for you. Also, remember to cover any outdoor furniture that you can’t move. This will keep it safe from the ravages of extreme weather, making sure you can keep using it for years to come.
Remove Diseased Plants and Weeds
If you want your garden to spring back to life when the sun comes back out, remove any diseased plants in your garden. These may harbor pests, funguses, and disease, so it’s best to discard them and leave the rest in place to prevent soil erosion over winter. Don’t forget to dig up and throw away invasive species that grew in your garden in the past season. Note that they may remain viable in a weed pile or compost heap, so completely discard them to ensure they don’t come back.
Add a Heat Source and Lighting
If you intend to entertain friends and family in your home this winter, adding a heat source will make these gatherings a lot more fun and bearable. A firepot, outdoor fireplace, or small portable heater will help keep you warm while you sit outdoors. Add tall shrubs or a fence to break the wind so it does not overpower your heating. Lighting will also come in handy and will create a gorgeous canopy of light over your yard. The department of energy states that an average American home spends between 5% and 10% of its budget on lighting alone. Keep this in mind as you shop for light sources so you get energy-efficient lighting that won’t drain your bank.
Clean and Store Your Garden Tools
Before winter starts, give your tools some attention and clean, sharpen, and oil them. This will rejuvenate them, lengthening their lifespan and leaving them ready to be used effectively come next season. Remove any mud and dirt by washing, then apply some machine oil with a cloth and store them inside your garden shed or garage from where you can retrieve them when you start to use them again.
Prune Perennial Plants and Prep the Soil
Finally, prune perennial plants in your backyard. These include roses, sage, thyme, and rosemary, blackberries, asparagus, and rhubarb. Take care, however, because leaves and stalks help to provide protection in the winter for your plant’s crowns. Plants covered in seed heads will provide food for overwintering birds and pollinators, so don’t prune these aggressively. Since trees planted strategically around your home can reduce your energy costs by 25%, it’s good to be keen on your placement if you set up any new trees this season or the next.
Regardless of what the winter is like where you live, there are some measures you need to take. These will help you have a more hassle-free spring and summer, so take time to finish these preparations before winter.