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What are you doing to prepare for winter?

October 15th, 2013 at 01:16 am

While the weather here in the northeast is still great, it certainly is chilling down as soon as the sun sets, and so my mind is on the upcoming winter. I can't believe it's here again (groan).

Here are a few of the things I've done to prepare for winter:

1. Started bringing all my potted annuals and perennials in the garage where they overwinter, saving me money on new plants in the spring.

2. Brought in the bird bath.

3. Scheduled a furnace cleaning.

4. Scheduled a chimney cleaning.

5. Got my furnace humidifier installed (hooray)

6. Froze piles of tomatoes from the garden, for winter soups and stews.

7. Drained the garden hose and shut off water to faucet in garage.

8. Moved a bunch of summer clothes in my main closet back to spare bedroom, and brought more winter attire into the main closet for handier access.

9. Soon, I will remove some of the screens from my windows so I can enjoy a much clearer winter-time view outdoors.

10. Replaced my storm door screen inserts with the glass inserts.

11. Reprogrammed my furnace timer to my current schedule with the new job.

12. Set a timer up on a lamp in living room so it's no longer dark when I get home.

13. Plugged in my two carbon monoxide detectors (to coincide with furnace heating season).

14. Cleaned up the garage so my car will fit in there when it snows.

15. The vegetable garden really could use some cleaning up.

16. I pulled out some of my draft dodgers to put against exterior doors, and put in the foam stuff around attic door to block the warm air from rushing up.

How about you? Did I forget anything?

9 Responses to “What are you doing to prepare for winter?”

  1. Carol Says:
    1381801791

    What do you do with the plant's--water? light? How do you prepare them? Thanks.

  2. Jenn Says:
    1381802693

    That's a comprehensive list! We need to have some missing shingles (blown off during storms) replaced on the roof. Otherwise, I imagine that melting snow could have unpleasant consequences.

  3. creditcardfree Says:
    1381808557

    Yes, I think you covered everything PS. It's getting cooler, but we have only had minor frost at night. I think we will have a couple more weeks before I start doing the final outside chores. We just planted three trees, so I'm going to need to keep watering them everyday until we get a hard freeze.

  4. littlegopher Says:
    1381836451

    Blankets! We put velour and fleece ones out near the couches for cuddling into for after dinner reading or movie time. We add heavier comforters and duvets on the beds, as well as the bed blankets.

    And speaking of snow - pull out the shovels for our side door (detached garage) and check on the ice melt supply. Put the snow scraper back into the car - ugh!

    Check over the furnace before it's turned on - replace filter.

    Busy as the squirrels here, or maybe we're just squirrelly Smile

  5. PatientSaver Says:
    1381839734

    Hi, Carol.

    I really don't do much to the plants. I just stick them way in the back of the garage, away from drafts from the garage door. I water them pretty well before putting them in there, and then I water them maybe 2 or 3 times over the course of the winter. You don't want to water that much or the roots may rot, but you don't want them to be bone dry either. I remember at one point when it was unusually cold last winter, I threw a tarp I have over some of the plants. Most of the plants have survived for probably three winters now, including some nice annuals that produce a daisy-like flower.

  6. ThriftoRama Says:
    1381843791

    Gee. Your life sounds like mine!

    -I'm doing a lot of "fall" cleaning, as in cleaning, clearing and organizing inside spaces in preparation for being stuck inside all winter.

    -We're looking into buying and installing a wood stove as a source of back-up heat and for general use in winter

    -I'm doing serious work in the backyard food garden to clean up after this season and prepare for the next. IN addition to tearing out and composting last year's spent plants (everything but the luffa gourds and hot peppers, which are still producing), and amending the soil with fallen leaves and grass clippings and compost. I'm also cutting down some invasive species shrubs to make room for a berry patch and cherry tree. It's a lot of work!

  7. CB in the City Says:
    1381849552

    Hmmm.... preparing for winter in a condo.... I'll make sure the storm windows are down. I'll have my son carry the air conditioners to basement storage. I need to buy a warm hat for my daily walk. Soon I'll take the chrysanthemums out of the flower boxes and figure out sometimes wintry to replace them. I'll bring the humidifiers up and get them going. That's about it!

  8. Miz Pat Says:
    1381851592

    I live in the desert. If I were more together, I would have planted a winter garden but i have 4 dogs who eat anything in the backyard and I would have to put up a fence to sequester them from the garden area. This is actually on my long term planning list.

    I do get the furnace checked and change the ducting filters.


    For us, this is the fun season. Its cool enough to do hikes and travel around and enjoy the desert.

  9. LuckyRobin Says:
    1381946777

    I'm still preserving food for the winter. Right now I'm making applesauce and apple cider vinegar and canning salmon and chicken.

    I've put the flannel sheets on the bed and got more blankets out of the closet.

    I've pulled out my sweaters and sweatshirts to start wearing and found my gloves and scarves.

    I'm shifting my menu planning to heartier and warming foods, such as stews, soups, and casseroles.

    I've cut down the roses and am in the process of turning/moving the compost pile for the last time this year.

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