Preparing Your Yard and Winterizing Your Sprinkler System for the Colder Weather

As the weather begins to turn colder home owners should not ignore the signs of winter soon approaching. Just as in springtime, there are essential home and property maintenance needing to be performed before the first freeze. A quick inventory of the home's exterior and surrounding landscape can save thousands upon thousands of dollars.

One of the most important tasks to take care of is the removal of any overgrowth next to the house and making sure there is clear access to and from the street. The reason for clearing any overgrowth from against the home is due to snow building up against the siding with no clear way to remove it. As the temperatures warm up during the day some snow may melt and seep into joints and other openings. When the temperature drops to freezing at night, any water that has been wicked into the siding or even mortar joints will expand when it freezes causing cracking and other damage. Most of the time this damage does not become apparent until many seasons later, but by that time the damage can not be prevented.

Surveying any nearby trees for large overhanging limbs or dead growth should be removed before the first snowfall. The weight of snow which gathers on tree branches up above can easily equal over one hundred to two hundred pounds. Weak and large branches overhanging the roof, carport or car can come crashing down causing severe damage. Insurance may cover the damage, but the home owner will still be without a vehicle or have a hole in the roof. Trees even along the street can prove to be a major hazard. Fallen branches or trees that may block street traffic in time of an emergency can prove fatal for a person waiting for a response to a 9-1-1 call. Any diseases or dead trees need to be removed before the first snowfall.

The other potentially major problem is regarding sprinkler pipes and hose connections at the house. Freezing temperatures make water expand. Should any water be present and under pressure in these lines when temperatures fall below the freezing mark, it is a good bet there will be some water line breakage. Generally a problem such as this will not become apparent until the temperature climbs to a sustained point above the freezing point.

Many professional irrigation services or landscapers have the means and proficiency to provide additional services above and beyond those of just fertilizing, seeding and sprinkler system installations. Fall sprinkler line blow-outs and tree removal are necessary every autumn to prevent dangerous and expensive situations.

For additional information on the topic of fall weatherizing, irrigation and tree removal visit Advanced Irrigation. Article independently authored by Daniel Elliott. The content herein may or may not reflect the views and opinions of Advanced Irrigation. Click for search engine optimization and search engine marketing or visit WebDrafter.com's Blog.