You
might think there isn’t any yard tasks left to do before the nasty winter
weather sets in, but for home owners with a yard and fence, there is always work
to be done. From raking the yard to winterizing the deck and wooden fence to
planting spring bulbs, there’s plenty to do in the month of
November.
Here are a few tips
on November preparations for your yard and
fence:
1.
Deck and Fence Preparations
Winter weather can
not just wreak havoc on cedar decking, but on your wood fence as well. November
is the perfect time for cleaning and prepping your deck and fence line for the
coming cold. Make sure all yard debris is cleaned off the surface of the deck.
Remove all flower planters, your grill, toys and patio furniture. Make sure the
spaces between wooden fence boards are free of any leaves or debris to allow for
maximum air flow. To keep the cement footing from cracking, remove any dirt,
leaves or bark buildup.
2.
Raking Your Yard
Now
is the right time to give your yard a good raking, especially if you haven’t
done so already. Piles of fallen leaves and debris will rot during the winter
months and can ruin a carefully landscaped yard, garden or cedar deck surface.
Getting out there now and taking care of those pesky leaves will mean less of a
mess to clean up in the Spring.
3.
Harvesting Fall Vegetables
If
you’re a gardener, now is the time to start harvesting your fall and winter
vegetables and herbs. Squash and brussel sprouts should be ready for picking, as
well as horseradish, parsnips and certain types of artichokes. Now is also a
good time to trim your broccoli plants and pack your herb gardens with a warm,
insulating layer of hay or straw.
4.
Planting Spring Flowers
If
you want flowers like tulips, bluebells, or other annual bulbs to blossom in the
Spring, get them in the ground now! Make sure you plant them low enough so they
won’t freeze, but not so low that the stalks will not be able to make it to the
surface in the Spring.
5.
Cleaning Your Fence
A
wooden fence is usually a bit more difficult to clean than a vinyl fence.
Cleaning your fence may be a simple matter of spraying it with a water hose.
Some fences may require a little more than that. Use a pale of warm soapy water
and a scrub brush to clean it well. It may take some extra scrubbing to get
stains off. To clean a chain link or aluminum fence the process is the same. Use
warm soapy water and a scrub brush. Rinse with a garden
hose.
There are beautiful
Fall days left in the month of November– get out there and enjoy them while you
can!
Author
Bio:
Andy Olson is a
fence installer in central Minnesota. For more
information about yards and fencing visit his website at http://www.fence-all.com
