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Patio Maintenance in Fall
Ahh fall! Crisp air, beautiful colors, and -- oh no! -- winter
preparation! It's true that fall brings many household
maintenance tasks, but the pleasant weather makes it enjoyable
to be outside, and the time spent maintaining your patios and
yards will add years to their life span.
Patio maintenance is particularly important in the fall. Patios
which are made of wood should be treated with a waterproofing
substance to protect them from the winter weather. This is not a
big project -- it can be done in an hour or two for an average
sized patio. The time spent doing this will protect the wood and
prevent costly repair bills in the springtime.
Moisture is the big enemy of wood, so anything that can
trap moisture should be removed. This means sweeping it from
time to time to get rid of the falling leaves and to remove
debris from between the floorboards of the patio. This can be
done with a screwdriver or other small object. Debris which
remains between the floorboards holds moisture and quickly rots
the foundation frame underneath.
If your patio needs a coat of paint, the fall is a good time to
do it. The paint will give the wood more protection during the
wintertime. Just make sure not to leave the job too late in the
season -- the weather should be clear and dry on the painting
day for maximum effectiveness.
If you have plants on your patio they must be prepared for
winter. Perennials can be protected with sackcloth and placed in
an area where they are less exposed to the elements. Annuals
should be removed from their beds and in the soil can be
re-fertilized.
Patio furniture should be examined and repaired if necessary,
and should be stored in a protected area. Leading patio
furniture outside during the winter is bad for both furniture
and patio -- moisture will accumulate under the legs and stain
or rot the patio floor.
Doing all this work in the fall will extend the life of your
patio. In addition, there will be fewer patio jobs to be done in
the springtime. All you will need to do is bring out the
furniture and replant your plants.
About the author:
Ross is author of
www.patio-furniture-ideas.com
At our site you find information about almost anything you need
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