Home & Lawn Winter Preparation

One of the best things about living in Indiana is having four seasons to enjoy. Right now, we're getting ready to say goodbye to fall and hello to winter. Even though we love this time of year, we know the bitter cold winter is ahead.Â Let us walk through some pre-winter preparation tips to help you protect your home and lawn from damaging ice and snow.

Inspect Your Roof Now...

You didn't think you could tuck away your ladder just yet now, did you? Before winter arrives, it's a good idea to give your roof, chimney, gutters, and downspout one final inspection. You're looking for sags and other signs of damage on your shingles, chimney brick, and flashing; clogs and leaks in your gutters; and proper drainage with your downspouts. Make sure everything is sealed up and draining nicely.

...And Don't Forget Your Attic

Ice dams are dangerous. Not only can they cause structural damage to your home, they can also injure people and pets. Make sure your attic is properly air sealed, insulated, and ventilated. This helps prevent settled snow and ice melting on a warm roof, trickling down, and refreezing into ice dams near the edge.

Locate Your Water Shutoff Valve

You know how to turn off appliances such as sinks, toilets, washing machines, and water heaters at the source. But do you know where your home's main water line is located? If not, find it now or call a plumber to help. In the event a frozen pipe bursts, you'll want to kill the water supply to your home before the ruptured pipe causes major water damage.

Plan Ahead for Snow Removal...

Whether you rely on a shovel, snowblower, or boy down the street, take some time to secure a winter snow removal solution now. If you're a DIYer, double check that your equipment is in safe operating shape. If you pay someone to clear your sidewalks and driveway, book them now before the lines grow long come December. Your local home improvement store likely already has ice melt on the shelves. It never hurts to stock up early. And remember, salt-based solutions can be harmful to grass and other lawn plants, so follow the directions carefully or look for alternative ice melts that are safer for plant life.

...And Prune Too-Close Trees

Speaking of plant life, give your property a quick walkthrough. If you see any trees with long limbs hanging over your roof or gutters, trim them back to safe distance. Branches break all the time from the added weight of snow and ice, and can wreak havoc on your house … the last thing you want to worry about in the dead of winter. On a side note, if you have any tree branches near power lines in or next to your yard, do not mess with those! Call your local utility or a licensed tree removal expert to safely trim them and help prevent a possible winter power outage.

Lastly, Apply a Root Building Application to Your Lawn!

It's crucial to nourish your turf in the late fall so that it can stand up against Old Man Winter. A special root development fertilizer is one of the last treatments your lawn needs to ensure protection during the winter months. After applying our Root Building Application, you'll have a stronger, healthier lawn come springtime. Below, the turf pros at Lawn Pride have gathered tips for proper root development for late fall. Indiana winters can be beautiful. Be sure to enjoy yours with little less stress by taking the time to prepare your home and lawn now. Get in touch with Lawn Pride for more seasonal tips and services.

How to Prepare Your Home for Winter Snow & Ice