​Get ready for winter: 6 essential home preparation tips

With the beautiful colors, warm days, and crisp autumn nights comes the realization that cooler months are ahead. The weather is perfect, and the timing is right to tackle several tasks inside and outside the home. Here are some great tips from Westlake Ace Hardware:

1) Thirsty & Hungry Lawns – Lawns are very hungry this time of year, so fertilize now to ensure your grass greens up in the spring. Apply up to two applications (four weeks apart) of high-nitrogen, slow-release fertilizer like Scotts Turf Builder Fall Lawn Food between October and December.

2) Keep Mums Beautiful – Before you place a potted mum in a container or the landscape, soak the pot in water for at least 30 minutes. Giving the mum a deep watering “from the roots up” will help ensure it stays hydrated and robust well into November. Also, mums planted in the ground or repotted into larger containers with fresh potting soil tend to stay hydrated longer.

3) Prep Plants for the Indoors – Before nighttime temps are consistently below 50F, prep the plants you want to take inside for the winter:

• Give the plants a good feeding with water-soluble fertilizer.
• Water the plants with a 6-to-1 mixture of water and isopropyl alcohol to help kill insects living in the soil.
• Examine the leaves and if insects are present, spray with a product like Orange Guard Home Pest Control Organic Insect Killer.
• Place the plants in a room that receives at least six hours of daylight. Until spring, feed sparingly and don’t overwater, as plants’ nutrition and moisture needs are less during the winter.
  
  

4) Light the Way – With shorter days ahead, adding outdoor lighting enhances the aesthetics and safety of a home. Hang string lights along a fence and harness the sun’s light with solar-powered lights. For added security in dark corners and on driveways, add a motion-detecting security light.

5) Change Furnace Filters – Changing your furnace filters regularly isn't just about maintaining good indoor air quality; it can also lead to significant cost savings. When your furnace filter is clogged with dirt, dust, and debris, your heating system has to work harder to push air through, which can result in higher energy consumption and, consequently, increased utility bills.

6) Fire Prevention Month – October is National Fire Prevention Month. Take this opportunity to change the batteries in all your smoke detectors. It's a small action that can make a big difference in keeping your family safe.