Chicago Home and Lifestyles – Fall tasks
Summer is over and winter will soon be here. Now is the time to make sure your home and landscape is ready for the cold months ahead! Around the Chicagoland area we’ve had relatively mild temperatures along with moderate rain. So, take advantage of this decent weather and take care of the many tasks that need to be done.
All bush and tree trimming should be done by now, so make sure you have enough mulch around for the winter. Make sure to leave several inches clear around the tree trunks and the bases of bushes. Continue with weekly deep watering with the hose trickling till the ground freezes. Trees and shrubs need a good supply of water to get through the winter and to really take off when spring comes.
Make sure all of your drainage systems are in good working condition including gutters and downspouts. If you don’t have gutter covers, make sure the gutters are free of leaves and other debris. Clogged gutters and downspouts will cause ice damming in the winter and can cause thousands of dollars’ worth of damage. If you don’t feel safe on the ladder or it’s simply too high, hire a professional. If you do get up there do a cursory check of the roof. Look for loose shingles, especially around openings like vents and chimneys. Check the drains around the house also. They tend to get full of leaves and dirt this time of year with fall rains. The point is to divert all water away from your foundation. Walk around the house checking the foundation and making sure it is all clean, with no piles of mulch or leaves up against it.
The grass you planted last month should be getting established by now, but remember it will still need to be watered if mother nature isn’t providing enough. An inch a week is sufficient. The new grass can be hand watered. You want it grown enough to survive winter and take off in the spring. Bring in any plants you brought out for the summer and put them in a sunny room.
Do you have any other fall tips for the home and landscape?
Kathleen Weaver-Zech and Dean’s Team Chicago
