As the weather cools down and the leaves start to fall, it can be quite tempting to stay indoors with your loved ones. But don’t give in! This is the best time to prepare your home for the coming cold months. So instead of staying indoors, you can take care of all the Fall projects and make life easier for your family to come in Winter and Spring.
Some of these simple projects will make it easier for your garden to spring back to life as soon as the cold winter months are over and keep the insects and pests away. So here are some easy DIY projects that can prepare your home for the fall.
11 Easy DIY Projects to Prepare Your Home for the Fall
Inspect and Repair Your Fence
The best time to inspect your wooden fence and repair any structural issues or rot is in late summer or early fall. Remember, ground frost and the excess moisture can force a weak fence to wobble and even shift. And in severe cases, you might end up repairing the entire fence come spring.
If a particular part of your fence has weakened and won’t survive the Fall and winter months, then this is the right time to replace the entire fence or that part of the fence. All you need are some pieces of timber, a durable power tool, some nails, and concrete for the poles, or hire wood fence installation experts.
Rake the Leaves
Raking the leaves before it gets windy and they start to fly all over your property is a great idea, especially if you reside in a snow-prone region. After all, the leaves left on the lawn over winter can become wet and compact. And this can damage your lawn, leaving a messy appearance to clean up after the snow has melted.
Aerate Your Lawn
The best time to aerate your lawn is during Fall when the rainy season has just started. Aerating your lawn can break up all the compact soil and allow fertilizer and water to penetrate the ground resulting in the creation of a healthy root system. Aerating your lawn can guarantee you a healthy lawn and lush grass come spring.
Get Fall Ready for Winter
Preparing for the snow while the leaves are still turning and dropping is a great idea. So you should remove all the sticks, electric cords, and anything else that might be damaged by a shovel or snow blower. Remember, you might also never get the time to deal with the electrical cords when the temperature drops and they have been covered by the snow, leaves, and debris. So, this is the best time to prepare your yard for the coming months. You can also tune up your snow clearing equipment before winter.
Drain Your Ponds
The falling dead leaves can do more than simply clog your filters and pumps; they can promote the growth of algae in your ponds. So, you can prepare your ponds for the Fall by draining and cleaning them to prevent damages. Remember, getting rid of the algae after the cold season has ended might end up costing you a lot of cash and time.
Repair the Cracks
Repair the cracks on your steps, sidewalks, and driveway before Fall. The Fall rain and the dropping temperature associated with winter can destroy your sidewalk and backyard pavement. The Fall rain can fill all the space left by a broken concrete on the pavement in your backyard, creating some potholes. So take some time and inspect your steps for cracks and holes now before the small problem gets too serious and repair them.
Pest Control
You won’t be the only one who wants to be warm and comfortable during the cold months. The cold months encourage a different type of pests and insects to seek warmth indoors, and they will use any opening they find to gain access to your home. So you should inspect all the places where you believe pests can use to get indoors and close them even before they attempt to get in. you should start by inspecting the underside of your sidings using a mirror. Make sure the damper isn’t broken or stuck open in the dryer vent. And make sure you stuff all the holes the insects might use with copper mesh. And if you discover some unwanted pests visit Power Pest Control for effective solutions.
Install Lighting
The cold months are characterized by shorter days and longer nights, so this is the best time to install some lamps all over your compound. All you need are some low voltage wires, light fixtures, and a transformer, and with a little experience, you will have your backyard and pathway lit during the long nights.
Protect Wood From Moisture
All pests and insects get their life-sustaining moisture from everything around them. These creatures are drawn to moist places and avoid dry ones. Therefore, if the soil near your home, walls, and foundation is dry, it is less likely to attract centipedes, spiders, and insects. So you should remove all the moisture-wicking mulch and soil from the low wood and window frames. You can also trim the bushes and keep turning the mulch periodically to reduce the dampness.
Trim All the Plants Near Your House
Once you have gotten rid of all the pests in the house and yard, you can go ahead and trim all the plants near your home to ensure that they never come back. Trim all the trees, shrubs, and bushes that are against your roof or siding that can provide a bridge for the insects to gain access to your home. Avoid stacking firewood next to your home. Remember, ants love building their nest under a layer of thatch and the bare spots in your yard. So maintaining a healthy yard is one of the best ways of discouraging them from building their nests in your backyard.
Switch the Direction of Your Ceiling Fan
All ceiling fans must turn clockwise during the Fall and winter months. Changing the direction of the fan will help push the warm air back into your house. The clockwise motion helps move the cold air upwards, forcing the warmer air to stay down.
Final Thoughts
The cold fall and winter months can force you and your family members to stay indoors. And as the temperature drops, doing some of the above DIY projects can be almost impossible. So why don’t you get your home Fall-ready and then snuggle with your loved ones knowing that they are all safe? Plus, some of these projects will end up making life easier for you come spring.
