Yesterday I started telling you about how getting my yard ready for winter always seems like a HUGE task. It seems like it will be impossible to get done. Then I try to look at it differently. Getting your yard ready for winter seems much less complicated if you break it into smaller pieces. Looking at the parts individually make the big task seem doable and less daunting. I talked about some of the things I do to get the actual yard ready. I also talked about trees, bushes and plants. After you talk about and take care of the trees, bushes and plants, there is still so much to do. Like I said yesterday, I’ve made myself a list and it really helps. Here are the non-plant items on my get your yard ready for winter list.

Blow out sprinkler systems
If you have a sprinkler system this is one you don’t want to miss. Some systems don’t need to be blown out so be sure you know if your system needs it or not. If you skip this step on the get your yard ready for winter list and don’t blow out a sprinkler system that needs it, you risk freezing and breaking your pipes. Not a good thing!

Cover water faucets
This is a quick and easy item to check off your get your yard ready for winter list. You can pick up an outdoor faucet cover for about a dollar at most stores. They usually just tie onto the faucet with a rubber loop. It is an easy way to help guard against frozen pipes.

Pick up sprinklers and hoses
This may sound like a silly thing to check but all too often it gets missed. If the hoses and sprinklers are still out on the lawn someplace, chances are they haven’t been used in a couple weeks. It is really quite easy to forget about them and have ruined sprinklers and hoses in the spring.

Put away toys
This is a lot like the sprinklers and hoses. There are probably a few seasonal outdoor toys outside still. Balls and other easy to misplace toys can be hidden behind bushes and other outdoor features. There are also lots of bigger toys like swings and slides that may need to be prepped for winter or put away. A few minutes of getting everything cleaned up and put away can save time and money in the spring.

Get sidewalks and driveways ready
This is one get your yard ready for winter list item that isn’t thought of often but it is something very good to check. Sidewalks and driveways can get cracks and loose cement pieces. It is a good idea to clean these up and secure loose pieces before winter hits. Shoveling can be much harder and even dangerous if the loose chunks or cracks are hit with a shovel or snow blower. Cement and driveway repair is at most hardware stores.

Birdfeeders
This is an optional item but it is lots of fun. It is also much easier to set up now that when the snow is falling and temperatures have dropped. My kids love watching the birds at the birdfeeder in the winter. So this is just a fun item we add to our get your yard ready for winter list.

Have an more tips or ideas to share? Let us know! We’d love to hear them!