Although it seemed like it was never going to truly get chilly, all of a sudden the temperatures have fallen, and we are in a situation wherein the cold seems colder than it ever has in the past. Winds, rainfall, sleet, and yes, snow, are all on their way, so you have to make certain that you are prepared for their madness. Have you accomplished all that you are required to do well before the season begins to get as vicious as it can?

If you haven’t started getting ready until now, now is the most recommended time to begin. Take some time to work off some of that Thanksgiving turkey and sides and go out into your grounds to truly see what could quite possibly come about if you don’t think toward the long term.

Not very sure where to start? Here are four ways to prepare for the season:

4. Make Sure Your Equipment is All Set

  • Try to keep everything near your home
  • Always have a well-made shovel
  • Have excess salt at the ready

One of the primary mistakes people make when they are attempting to get prepared for the cold months season is that they get every detail all ready and then they don’t have it near when the snow actually hits. Will you need to get a shovel at some point? Undoubtedly. But how will you get it if we receive 24″ of snow and the shovel is in your storage shed? Be sure that tools are ready and near your home at all times. Try placing it in your garage or on your patio. The CDC has a listing of things that you need to be prepared for blizzards.

Scrutinize all of the needed gear, like shovels, ice scrapers, snow blowers, gloves, hats, chains, and anything else you may need to make yourself safe in the snow. Ascertain they will do their work correctly and safely. It also isn’t a poor tip to have several substitutes– just in case something goes wrong OR just in case you have a few assistants.

3. Winterize All Structures

  • Don’t neglect pools, water features, and decks
  • Take care to winterize flower gardens and grass
  • Never pass over your garage

Many people feel that they merely need to winterize their houses because that is the only location they will really be during the storm, but that isn’t the case. According to Weather Underground, many people forget to winterize various aspects on their properties, and that actually costs more money than the damages to your home would.

Winterize your pools, arbors, stoops, and outdoor areas by clearing away anything that could blow away in a storm. Do not forget that ice and snow are much heavier than rain, so you need to eliminate anything where snow can pile up, like awnings or coverings. Anything that currently has sitting water (like a water feature, birdbath, or container) will most likely freeze in the cold, so you have to account for expansion as well.

Most essentially, you should always winterize your garage. While it is rare, if you do ever have to move out your home because of the snow, you want a dependable way to get to your automobile.

2. Guard Yourself From The Chill Outside

  • Get and setup storm window overlaying
  • Use plastic on the indoors
  • Caulk any unsealed spaces

One of the most sensible and straightforward actions you can do to prep yourself and your family for this coming season is to obstruct the cold from arriving into your home. To do this, take a few preventive steps that the American Red Cross suggests highly.

The very first to walk around your home from the exterior and the inside and see where cool air may permeate into your home. Usual transgressors are windows and doors, however, there can be cracks in another place. This will keep your home more comfortable and your utility expenses down, as well as prevent some of the hazards that you might get a few nuisances boarding in your home over the winter.

Another great alternative, in particular for those who reside close to the water, is to get storm windows. These will not only give protection to your home from the cold weather and wind but can also help them keep safe if junk starts to fly during a particularly bad blizzard. If obtaining storm covers is too financially demanding, consider lining the insides of your windows with plastic for some added defense.

1. Assess Your Trees

  • Look for any hanging branches
  • Be sure that they can get water and nutrition
  • Have risky branches cleared away

One of the most considerable obstacles you may deal with throughout the wintry weather months is tree care. Trees tend to slow down a bit in the winter season, but they are still getting by and need to be able to get nutrition and water. Ensure that the soil is helping them to get what they require– especially once everything begins to freeze up and become dense. You also want to make sure that going into this time, your trees are good and have a good chance of survival if they do have to go for a bit with no water or food.

Last but not least, always reach out to a professional tree service if you see any branches that could pose a dilemma to your property, cars, swimming pool, buildings on your property, electric lines, or the street if we do get a major ice storm or snow storm. These kinds of storms can weigh down trees and make it so that you have an emergency of your own in the middle of a weather-related crisis. According to the US Government, be sure that you have the telephone number of a local tree care company in case you do have an emergency.

If you are in need of a go-to tree service contractor in the State College, PA area, contact Cutting Edge Tree Professionals today. We are a professional team of skilled professionals that take tree maintenance, especially tree care in the winter months, incredibly seriously. Your trees and your safety and security mean a lot to us, so we want to do whatever we can to make you feel much safer this winter season.

Give us a call today at (814) 240-2172, and we can come to your home to perform any maintenance needed before the season gets too bad or, in the event of an unexpected emergency, we can help you to clear up the circumstance as quickly as possible.

Header photo courtesy of Scott Robinson on Flickr!