The days are getting shorter and that means it’s time to think about your pre winter checklist for your home. It’s time to think about getting your home ready for winter, whether you like it or not. If you live in a newly constructed TD Builders home, home maintenance takes no time at all. No more storm windows or doors to put on. In today’s new construction any fall maintenance is going to take place outside in your lawn and garden, hopefully before the first snowfall.
Pre Winter Checklist for your Home
Turn off outside water – This is a simple enough task, simply turn off the water faucets that are outside. Be sure to leave the tap open so any water left inside the pipe doesn’t crack the pipe when it expands from freezing. There should be a valve to bleed the line between the off valve and the faucet, but it’s still a good idea to leave the faucet open. You may want to blow out any water in hoses as well.
Store hoses and sprinklers – Once you’ve emptied the water from any hoses, sprinklers and other attachments, bring them into the garage to store them for the season. We build oversized garages in all our homes so there’s plenty of room to store all your garden accessories. There’s no excuse to leave anything out in the yard.
Overwinter your Geraniums – Geraniums are not only beautiful but they are hardy and so difficult to kill for even the greenest of thumbs. You can also store your geraniums over the winter for beautiful blooms in the spring. Check out this article on storing geraniums over the winter.
Rake Leaves and other Debris – Grab the kids and hand them each a rake. It’s best to do the raking in the fall so any snow that falls can easily melt into the soil. With a layer of leaves between the precipitation and soil and you can create a nice bit of mold. If your area permits it you can burn the leaves or bring them to a composting site.
Aerate your Lawn – Aerating your lawn allows fertilizer to penetrate the roots as well as permitting any precipitation to seep in deeper for a stronger root system. Aerate and then immediately follow with fertilizer and seed for a beautiful lawn next spring.
Fertilize and Seed – Fertilizing and seeding in the fall will ensure a beautiful lawn in the spring, it’s also simple to do. Head on down to your nearest neighborhood hardware store or even big box chain and pick up your favorite brand of lawn fertilizer and grass seed. Use spreader to spread both fertilizer and seed. Click here for more information about seeding and fertilizing at the same time. That’s it! You don’t need to do anything fancy – just remember to keep pets and children off the lawn for the manufacturer’s recommended amount of time.
Getting your home ready for winter is easier than it’s ever been, especially if you live in a brand new home by TD Builders of Omaha.
