Preparing for Winter
Fall is the time to be preparing for the coming winter season. This is when it's time to start putting your garden and land to bed depending on where you live.
Putting Your Garden and Land to Bed - This is cutting back perennials, deadheading {pruning off dead growth}, pulling the last of the weeds, and putting down straw and/or mulch in the areas you want to provide an extra layer of protection against freezing for your plants. Remember to leave some plants for the bird and overwintering beneficial insects that help steward and sustain an ecological and bio-diverse garden and land.
Wood Cutting and Stacking - Time to get out your chainsaw, maul, axe and wedge and get to work! Make sure you wear all the recommended gear to protect yourself. I recommend making 3 stacks of finished cuts.
Your largest and thickest cuts make up the bulk of your firewood.... just like the size of the logs pictured above.... BIG LOGS! 5 to 7 inches wide and 1 and 1/2 feet long. Choose a size that will fit your fireplace and use this as your length template for all your logs in each size that follows.
Medium size cuts would be logs 4 to 6 inches wide.
Small cuts would be logs 1 to 3 inches wide.
Lastly, your smallest cuts would be woody twigs and branches used for kindling. These are between 1/4 and 1/2 inches wide.
Gutter Cleaning and Downspout Checks - Periodically check your gutters and downspouts to make sure they are flowing. Make sure your downspout screens are clean, and if you don't have downspout screens I recommend putting them in to help protect your downspouts from getting clogged.
Watering System Draining and Shut Down - this is the time to empty and turn off your watering systems. I like to use the first freeze (in applicable climates) as the sign it's time to shut it down. When you do drain it, make sure you do this when it's warmed up during high noon of a sunny day above freezing. Contact an irrigation specialist if you want an expert to take care of this for you.
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