Preparing Your Outdoor Space for Winter

Many of us put a lot of time and money into our yards despite the fact that summer is fleeting in northern New England. In a way it makes sense. If you have only a few months of lazy sunshine you better make sure you can enjoy every moment. However, once the kids are back to school, and the leaves begin to wander from their trees it's time to think about putting your summer oasis to rest. We have everything you need to know to protect your investment in your outdoor space and ensure that it will be ready to go as soon as the sun returns. 

Patio

• Clear leaves from your patio and walks to prevent staining. 
• Fill gaps in pavers with cement or poly sand. 
• Seal masonry elements to prevent ice and salt damage. 
• Fill any erosion around patios, walks, and drives to prevent water from freezing underneath and causing heaves. 
• Clear gutters and downspouts and ensure they are pointed away from masonry surfaces. 

Deck

• Clear all leaves and debris from your deck to prevent staining and to make it easier to clear as snow accumulates. 
• Clean your deck with a mildew solution to prevent mildew from creating a slippery surface (do not clean with bleach as it will kill any plants and corrode metal fasteners.) 
• Inspect your deck and railings for any rotten or loose boards. 
• You will want to seal or stain your deck every 2-3 years. 

Plants

• Prune most perennials back to ground level. 
• Save pruning trees and shrubs for late winter. 
• Mulch trees, plants, and shrubs to protect the roots. 
• Wrap shrubs in burlap to shield them from salt and wind. 
• Tie up or remove branches that may snap under the weight of snow and ice. 

Grass

• Remove leaves and debris from the lawn. 
• Weed your lawn thoroughly to get a head start on next year. 
• Cut the lawn to 2 to 2.5 inches to minimize feed for pests.
•  Aerate and fertilize the grass. 
• Finally deep water the grass before the ground freezes. 

Furniture

• Clean your furniture before you store it for the winter. Clean all hard surfaces with the appropriate detergent and allow it to dry. 
• Any fabric pieces will need to be washed- either spot washed or laundered- and dried before being placed in sealed containers and stored in a dry space. 
• If you have wicker furniture you will want to apply water repellent. 
• If you have aluminum furniture treat it with car wax to keep it in good condition. 
• Seal wood furniture using your preference of polyurethane, polyacrylic, or wax.  
• Plastic furniture will become brittle is allowed to freeze so you will want to store it in a warm, dry space. 
• Cover all furniture with fitted covers and store out of the elements. 

What do you think? Is there anything we missed? Let us know in the comments!