Colorful leaves. Crisp mornings. Boots. Sweaters. Pumpkin spice lattes. Autumn will (hopefully) be here before we know it! Here is a list of fall must-do tasks to prepare your home and yard for cooler weather.

Outdoors:

Your Home

• Clean and cover or store outdoor furniture and children’s summer toys.
• Remove flaking paint on trim and deck and repaint. Don’t forget to use a primer on wood before painting.
• Check all windows, doors and entry points for missing or damaged caulk. Re-caulk if necessary.
• Inspect all doors to the outside. Are they allowing any air to get through? If so, install weather-stripping and door thresholds.
• Drain garden hoses and store. Install covers to insulate exterior spigots to prevent them from freezing.
• Freezeproof in-ground irrigation systems by following the manufacturer’s procedure.
• Inspect gutters and downspouts and clear any debris.
• Check your roof for damaged shingles, corroded flashing or leaky vents.

Your Yard

• Aerate the lawn. For larger yards, try a walk-behind aerator that pulls out 2.5- to 3.5-inch soil plugs.
• Feed your grass with fertilizer. Try a high-phosphorus mix to encourage roots.
• When mowing for the final time this year, trim grass down to 1.25 inches so that leaves will blow over more easily.
• Collect leaves and try raking them into a plastic tarp. Try composting the leaves to create “black gold” that can be used to nourish your yard next year.
• Plant new shrubs to give plants an earlier start on establishing roots before cold weather hits. Add mulch after you plant.
• Cut cracked, loose or diseased limbs from small trees. Leave the wounds exposed in order to help with healing. For bigger jobs, call a professional.
• If you want flourishing spring beds, get rid of annuals and trim perennial foliage down to the ground. Every three years, divide tuberous plants (such as irises and daylilies) to create more space.
• Give new beds a layer of mulch after a light frost but before the first freeze. A 2-4 inch layer will keep new plants warm and control water runoff.
• Damaged walkways and driveways will get worse in icy weather. Check for cracks more than ⅛ inch wide and uneven area. Save major repairs for a professional.

Indoors:

• Do a deep clean of the home. Concentrate on communal living spaces, such as the living room, family/bonus room, entryway and kitchen.
• Clean from top to bottom. Wash or vacuum curtains/drapes, clean window sills and wipe baseboards.
• Wash interior windows.
• Clean duvets, blankets and comforters to prepare beds for winter temperatures.
• Prepare the kitchen for holiday cooking by organizing cabinets and drawers. Clean the clutter off counters to allow for more cooking space.
• Clean or replace humidifier elements (inspect plates and pads) before the heating season begins.
• Clean or replace dirty furnace filters. Schedule fall furnace inspections now. Don’t wait until it gets cold!
• If you have a fireplace, check for soot and flue blockages. It wouldn’t hurt to schedule a visit from a chimney sweep.
• Test smoke and carbon monoxide monitors. If you don’t have an at least one fire extinguisher in the home, you should purchase one (look for an A-B-C rating). Review fire escape plans with the family and get rid of any highly flammable items in the home.

Fall is the perfect time to take care of the little things that will have big payoffs. Most tasks will be simple enough to do yourself. Even if you end up hiring a professional, it will be well worth the money spent. If you have any questions about what you have read, contact The Southbound Group. We are here to help!