The last flowers are fading, the first leaves are falling – autumn is here! Now there is a lot to do to make your house and garden winter-proof. With our checklist you can keep track of things.
A walk in the golden autumn light, afterwards a piece of apple pie and a cup of tea – autumn definitely has its charms. So that you can enjoy this to the full, there is now some work to be done in the house and garden.
The aim is to identify and fix damage and blemishes as well as preparatory work for next spring. Our checklist brings together what is important now:
- Roof check: so that the roof can withstand the storms in autumn and winter, now is the right time to check for defects and damage. Pay particular attention to loose or damaged roof tiles and cracks in the chimney connections, throats or dormers. The inside of the roof should also be inspected. Watch out for moisture stains and damage to the insulation. Many roofing companies offer a professional roof check, in which even minor defects can be rectified directly. Before prolonged rainfall sets in, the gutters should also be checked, cleaned and, if necessary, re-attached so that passers-by do not experience a surprise shower.
- Vent the heating: Coming out of the cold into a warm apartment is good. However, air has often collected in the heater, displacing the hot water in the radiator. The result: the room stays cold, but heating costs rise. In order for the radiators to heat as they should, thorough ventilation of the heating system is an integral part of the start of the heating season. To do this, the vent valve must be opened with a small square key. Here you can find out how you can easily do it yourself.
- Windows tight? Leaking windows create an unpleasant draft and can drive up heating costs. It is therefore worth checking early on whether the windows and doors reliably keep out cold and drafts. You can easily do this yourself by using an incense stick. Light it and hold it in front of windows and doors. The smoke moves with the draft and shows you what the problem is. You can make leaky windows fit for winter with sealing tapes available in hardware stores, for example.
Fall home and garden checklist
There is a lot to do now, not only in the house, but also in the garden or on the balcony: the beds have to be cleared and prepared for winter. But one or the other thought of spring is also allowed.
- Tubers out, onions in: Begonias, dahlias and other perennial tubers are dug up after the first night frosts and stored in a box in the cellar or garage for the winter. The bulbs for the early bloomers can be put in their place as early as autumn: The bulbs are buried with the point up about twice as deep as they are high. It is important that the soil is permeable so that there is no waterlogging. If the onions are planted in pots, they must not be placed in a warm place. By the way: The popular heather can also be planted in autumn.
- Prune sparingly: Sick or infested perennials can now be cut back generously, healthy plants can remain. They offer insects important space for wintering, while at the same time the branches protect the roots from the cold. Seed pods or the like are an important source of food for birds.
- Winter coat for flower beds: in the vegetable garden, harvested beds are freed from the plants. If you have planted raspberry bushes this year, they should be protected from the cold in the first winter with a layer of mulch or straw or a cover made of brushwood or jute. Berries in pots should, like all other container plants, overwinter in a cool place at no more than 10 degrees Celsius. Cover planted beds and borders to protect the plants and bulbs from frost. Suitable materials are fir branches, straw or jute strips. You should also pack rose bushes and hardy potted plants well.
- Lawn in autumn: fallen leaves must now be collected. Rake it up carefully, keeping in mind that many species of animals seek shelter under the layer of foliage. Do not consider throwing away all of the leaves, but instead offer a pile of leaves in a corner of the garden as a shelter for hedgehogs or frogs, for example. Once the leaves have been removed from the lawn, you can do the last lap with the lawnmower for this year. A dry autumn day is also a good time to scarify the lawn.
Important: Remember to turn off all water pipes that lead outside. Otherwise, the water-carrying pipes could freeze and burst in severe frost.
