The sun’s going down earlier, and there’s a chill in the air in the morning and at night. That means that it’s fall, and you need to prepare your yard for the winter. Here are some to-do items to add to your list.
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Outdoors
5 things to tackle in your yard before winter
1. Branch management
Take a stroll around your property looking for tree branches hanging close to or over the cottage and other outbuildings. Remove any sickly ones that could fall and cause damage. While you’re at it, prune back any overgrown branches on any decorative shrubs around the cottage and deadhead flowering bushes.
2. Gardening
If you want to have tulips or other spring flowers blooming, plant your bulbs now. If you grow a garden at the cottage, now is also the time to add mulch and till the soil so that it’s ready to grow in the spring.
3. Drain your hose
If you have a garden hose at the cottage, disconnect it, and drain all the water from it before you store it away for the winter. Turn off the water supply inside the cottage, and open the faucet so any last remnant water can drain out.
4. Tool storage
Scrap and rinse any dirt or debris off your garden tools before you store them for winter. Make sure they’re completely dry before you put them away. You can also rub them with an oily rag to help prevent rust. Ensure wooden handles aren't in contact with soil or they can start to rot.
5. Prepare for next spring
Make note of your springtime chores that you’ll want to tackle when you open up—repair that wonky railing, lay down a new pathway, add extra seating space around the campfire.
