Winterizing Your Home and Garden.

Ready for sub-zero temperatures? As the Charlottesville weather turns nippy and snuggly winter attires line your closet, it’s a good idea to spend time preparing your property for the frosty season ahead.

Winterizing your home and garden facilitates a cozy space when the temperatures plummet while helping prevent damage from the harsh weather. A little precautionary maintenance goes a long way in protecting your home’s value through the cold winter.

Not sure where to start? Here are some end-of-season tasks to prep your home and garden for winter. 

1. Update Your Winterization Tool Kit.

First things first, are you well-equipped? As you set out to winterize your Charlottesville home and garden, arm yourself with the right tools for the trade. To quote Anthony T. Hincks, “Make sure that you always have the right tools for the job. It’s no use trying to eat a steak with a teaspoon, and a straw.”

Some tools and products that are likely to come in handy include a thermostat, smoke & carbon monoxide detectors, insulation material, door sweeps, and weather stripping/caulk to keep the interior warm and energy bill low.

When it comes to the garden or yard, consider investing in pruning shears, a shovel, a saw, protective wear (e.g., gloves and safety glasses), an ice scraper, a ladder, roof rakes/cables, and relevant machinery, depending on your needs.

You might also want to consider creating a “winter emergency kit” in case you lose power, a storm hits, or someone gets injured. This may include batteries, a first-aid kit, blankets, water, non-perishable foodstuffs, and other necessities. 

Gathering the right tools for the job is an important first step towards a cozy home and peace of mind when the cold weather rolls in.

2. Reinforce the Exterior.

From gusts of chilly wind to freezing temperatures and snowfall, Old Man Winter can wreak havoc on your home. As such, reinforcing your home’s exterior is one of the most important winterization tasks before the adverse weather extremes come knocking. 

Here are some useful tips to help protect your home from the harsh elements:

  • The roof is typically the first place you want to inspect for any maintenance tasks. Look for damaged, loose, or missing shingles and signs of leakage. While you’re up there, ensure your gutters and downspouts are clean and free of debris (especially from the fall season).
    The issue with clogged gutters is that water may build up and freeze, which is a risk factor for structural damage.
  • If you have a chimney, it’s wise to inspect it to mitigate the risk of fire-related hazards. Consider calling in a professional to inspect and clean it.
  • Got outdoor faucets? Shut off their water supply and drain all outdoor pipes—making sure to water does not collect near your home’s foundation. And if you have any pipes running next to the outside walls, wrap them in insulation now to prevent costly plumbing repairs later.
  • Run a full inspection of your exterior wall. Seal any cracks and gaps around your door and window frames with weather stripping or caulk to keep drafts at bay. You might also want to consider installing storm windows and doors for an added layer of protection.
  • Depending on your building material, you might also want to consider touching up your exterior surfaces with a fresh coat of weather-resistant paint.
  • Move patio furniture, grills, and other outdoor items inside or protect them from harsh elements with specialized covers.

Prep Your Home’s Interior to be Warm and Cozy.

We all want to snuggle up in our favorite fuzzy socks and sip away at a hot cup of chocolate while snow paints the landscape white. But for this to be as cozy as it sounds, you need to tick a few end-of-season maintenance tasks off your winterization to-do list.

  • If your home tends to be freezing cold, adding a layer of insulation is necessary to keep the heat in, the cold outside, and your energy bill low.
  • Double-check your heating system to ensure it is in good working order to keep your home snug as the frosty weather rolls in. If you’re not comfortable or experienced with the task, it’s best to have a professional inspect and tune up your furnace, fireplace, or any other heating system to ensure it’s ready for the chilly months ahead.
  • When was the last time you tested and updated your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors? Think of this as a reminder from your friendly neighborhood realtor to replace those batteries or even upgrade your detectors to more advanced models.
  • Insulate your windows, as they are one of the main culprits for heat loss around your home. Use weather stripping, heavy curtains/blinds, and plastic window film to get the job done.

Tend to Your Garden.

Even as animals hibernate and plant go dormant in winter, a gardener’s work is never done. If you want your garden to sprout and thrive come spring, winterizing your garden is key. And here’s how to go about it:
  • Trim any overgrown or dying trees and shrubs near your house and other structures—lest they give in to the weight of snow or the pressure of billowing winter winds.
  • Aerate the soil to prevent it from becoming too compacted. It also allows nutrients and water to seep in better and reach the roots.
  • Clear out pesky weeds, diseased plants, and invasive varieties that may compete for nutrients. This is also a great time to clean up plant debris that could be a breeding ground for pests and diseases during winter.
  • Protect your garden beds. Some options to protect your plants from the elements include using a cloche, large cardboard boxes, landscape fabric, or burlap wraps. For more delicate plant babies, consider moving indoors to keep them safe from harsh elements.
  • Plant your spring bulbs while the soil is still workable, and watch them bloom when the sun comes out again.

Bottom Line

A few end-of-season maintenance tasks can go a long way in protecting your property and family from the harsh winter elements. Winterizing your home and garden will help you ease into the cold season with peace of mind. So bring out your tools and get to work while the weather is still conducive.
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