Don’t let the title of this blog depress you. I don’t know where you live, but I reside in the Upper Midwest and for the last two days it has been storming and in the 50’s. So much for Indian summer. (Actually, it is supposed to be back in the 70’s by the end of the week.) Needless to say, today’s weather has me thinking about switching the house from summer to winter mode. Well, at least the backyard. I can’t help but cringe at the sight of the grill, lawn furniture, and plastic pool and think that in a matter of weeks I really do need to get out there and start winterizing.
You may or may not have a checklist for the transition (if you live in a warmer climate then summer’s end doesn’t translate to “stow it time.” If you don’t here’s the one I follow:
Barbeques/Grills
Move portable models inside a storage shed, garage or plastic storage unit (available at most hardware stores), but keep propane tanks outside, covered with a plastic bag or tarp. Never store propane tanks inside–propane poses an explosion risk indoors.
Hoses
I used to keep our hoses outside all year round. Big mistake. I thought I could simply drain the hose and leave it outside, but later learned the hard way that even drained hoses suffer from exposure when left outdoors, which of course means you will be replacing them quicker than if you took time to winterize them. With that said: unhook the hoses from spigots, empty the water and store them in a garage or shed.
Garden Tools
I recommend dipping shears, spades and other hand tools in sand mixed with motor oil to clean and lubricate before storing.
Potted Plants
Just get rid of them. Once again, learn from my mistakes: pull up potted annuals at the end of summer and throw out the soil. Then, store your pots in a shed, garage or basement. If you leave terracotta pots outdoors they will freeze and plastic pots will suffer unnecessary exposure and damage when left to sit in the extreme cold.
Lawn Mowers
It’s a good idea to tune your mower at then end of summer that way you avoid having to deal with the crowds of other mower owners who take their machines in for a tune up in the spring. Also, you may want to consider adding a gasoline stabilizer to the remaining fuel to preserve it.
Lawn Furniture
I store our portable, lightweight plastic lawn furniture in the garage. But, heavier pieces, like wrought-iron, can be left out, provided you cover them with large plastic bags or the manufacturers’ covers (you can purchase them at hardware stores or online). The covers are typically made of durable vinyl and have drawstrings or grommets for cords to secure against wind. Also, don’t forget to store the fabric cushions inside. Finally, if you are feeling up to it, or you deem it necessary because you haven’t done it all summer, you may want to clean your furniture prior to storing it.
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