12 Essential Tips to Winterize a Backyard

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It’s crazy how fast time flies when you have kids. At the time I’m writing this post, there are only a few days left until the summer holiday is officially over for my daughters, then they’ll start going back to school.

The end of summer marks the beginning of the time to winterizing a backyard.

The purpose of winterizing is to preserve the items in your backyard and prevent them from being ruined due to the cold weather. It also saves you tremendous repair work and money when summer comes around.

Below are some ways that I would use to preserve and maintain a backyard before the winter season arrives.

1) Inspect and Clean the Storage Shed

Since I would store many backyard items in a storage shed, this would be the number one thing I look into.

That’s the shed I usually would use to store large items

First, you need to make sure the shed is still sturdy and do not have any water leakage problem. Else, all your stored items would be water damaged and cause mold.

The best way to check for the leakage problem is to inspect it right after a heavy rain. If there is a leakage, you might need to replace the shingles on the roof of the shed or patch the holes.

Then I would start cleaning the interior of the shed.

  • Remove all the items within, then swift off all the dirt on the floor. I would do so either with my leaf blower or just a broom.
  • Clean all walls, ground, and ceiling with a vinegar and water mixed solution. Remember to clean the corner parts, as these are the parts where insects such as spider would nest.
  • Then I’ll leave the door open and leave it air dry. Since I’m not soaking the interior, it usually just takes a few hours for it to dry.

Once the shed is completely dry, then restore the items back into it.

2) Winterize the Removable Outdoor Playset

This could be a trampoline, bounce house or inflatable water slide. Basically, any playset that is not attached to the ground.

Before you store them, you should thoroughly clean each one of them. Don’t forget to dry it completely before putting away, else, mold could develop. If you are unsure how to do so, here are a few articles I wrote for quick reference.

Even though there could be play structure that is fixed to the ground (i.e., swing set), you should still clean and store away the parts that are easily removable. For example, the swing seat, its chain, and hanging ropes.

3) Winterize a Basketball Hoop

If you have a portable basketball stand, then here are the steps to winterize it:

  • Drain out all the water at the base. Because as the water freezes, it will expand and crack the base. However, if you always fill the base with dry sand, then it would be fine, there’s no need to drain it.
  • Lower the hoop as much as you can. This will reduce the impact of getting damaged by the wind.
  • Remove the net.
  • Store the entire unit in a shed or garage.

However, if you don’t have the available space to store it away, you could leave it outdoors. But make sure to cover the entire basketball hoops with a tarp, then tied it with bungee cords. The same applies if you have a basketball stand that is permanently installed to the ground.

If you decide to leave the portable basketball hoops outdoors and drain all the water from the base, then you should lay it down. This prevents the unit from falling which could cause severe damage or injury. But you might need help from a couple of adults, as the set could be heavy.

I covered this topic more in-depth in another post. You could check it out here.

4) Prepare the Woods for the Winter

There are many wooden items you could find in a backyard such as a deck, fences or swing set.

You should inspect to see how are their conditions. If you see there is any sign of wear and tears, then it’s better to maintain and care for them so that they could hold up well against the harsh winter weather.

I painted the deck about two years ago. Apparently, some maintenance work is needed to be done now.

Clean the Surface Area

Without doing so, there could be drops from BBQ grills, drinks, chalk drawings, bird dropping, dust and other debris in your finishing.

What you need to do is to clean them with some dish soap, then thoroughly rinse the part with water. If there is dirt that is hard to remove, you could use a brush to scrap it. Some suggest using power wash, but I’m concerned that would damage the woods, so I’ll just stick with the gentle dish soap cleaning method.

Smooth the Surface

Once it’s dry, remove all the splinters and loose paint. Then use sandpaper to smooth the surface.

Apply Stain and Seal

They help to protect the woods from exposure to rain, snow, and UV. You should apply them every 1 to 2 years. Be sure to check the weather forecast before you proceed, as the solution could take some time to dry.

Rather than doing the seal and stain in two separate steps, here’s a 2-in-1 solution which could worth considering.

5) Protect the Metal from Rusting

Similar to the wooden items in a backyard, there are ways to protect the metal equipment from deterioration due to weather condition. (i.e.: Lock of the backyard gate, slide, swing set)

I need to apply some rust converter on my backyard door’s lock before the winter.

  • First, you should clean off the dirt. I would avoid soaking them as this could lead to rusting. In most cases, I would use Lysol wipes to clean it.
  • Once it is dry, I would remove all the loose paint with sandpaper and make the surface smooth.
  • To prevent the metal from rusting, I would reapply paint to the parts where the paints have fallen. However, if you are concerned about the color difference between the old and new paint, you could repaint the entire surface.
  • For parts that are already rusted, you could apply a rust converter coating on it. This helps the metal from further rusting. Once it is dry, you could paint it over.
  • Here’s a brief review of a rust converter that I like.

6) Winterize the Outdoor Faucet and Garden Hose

It is extremely important to do so. The reason is water within the faucet could expand as it freezes during the winter, which could burst the pipe and lead to an expensive repairing cost.

There is a label in one of the valves to remind me to turn it off before Oct 31st every year.

This is what I would do before every winter arrives.

  • Detach the garden hose from the faucet, and drain out all the water. Then store the hose in a shed.
  • Shut off the interior valves of the water source going outside
  • Turn on the exterior valves so that all the water could drain out from the pipe. Once all the water is completely drained, you could turn off the exterior valves.

Just account for your outdoor water usage before you winterize the hose and faucet. I typically would wash off all my daughter’s outdoor toys, sand play tools, my car’s rubber carpets before I shut off the valves.

7) Winterize a Sandbox

Two Girls Play In The Sandbox At The Playground

Although I like to keep the sand clean, it is unnecessary to replace them every year entirely.

The key is to have a good cover that could seal the sandbox tightly. It will prevent debris such as pine needles, leaves, sticks from falling on it. It also stops the animals from using the sand as their toilet.

This is why I prefer a sandbox that has a built-in cover. If yours does not have a sandbox cover, you should get one separately. But make sure to get one that is waterproof, while made with breathable materials.

Before you cover the sandbox, you should scoop off as much as debris as possible. If you have a portable sandbox, then you could store it in a shed or garage. On the other hand, if it is a wooden one that is installed to the ground, then you might need to stain and seal it before winter arrives.

8) Get Your Lawn Ready for Winter

I have a huge area of grass in my yard. To make sure my daughters could continue having fun rolling and running on it when next spring comes around, below are the steps I would get the lawn ready for winter.

Mow the Lawn in Late Fall

I would cut it so the grass would be around two inches long. If the grass is too high, the grass could be flattened by the winter winds. Moisture would also be trapped which lead to mold, bacterial, and roots damaging.

However, you wouldn’t want the grass to be too short. The ground could become dry, and damaged by the sun.

Remove the Leaves and Debris

I have a maple tree in my yard. In every autumn, a massive pile of leaves would cover up my lawn. This would suffocate the grass. They either prevent the water from penetrating the grass or trap too much moisture underneath. I usually would rake them up, and place them in my compost bin.

Fertilize the Lawn

If your compost pile is ready, this is a great time to add them to your yard along with some topsoil and grass seed. This could help your garden get a head start on spring growth.

9) Proper Storage of Gardening Tools

It is essential to clean and dry the gardening before storing away. Dirt such as lawn clipping, mud, grease could lead to rust, mold or even attract unwanted insects.

Although most people would remove the grass clipping from collection bag of a lawn mower, they tend to forget there could be a pile of dirt in the undercarriage of the equipment. You should remove it from the mower, and inspect to see if the blade needs to be sharpened or replaced before spring. Of course, make sure the machine is turned off when you do the inspection and don’t forget to wear a pair of safety gloves.

I remember back in the days when I was small, my neighbor told me that he had to empty the gas tank of the mower for winter. I’m unsure what the exact procedure should be as all my garden tools are electric. But you should be able to find the details in the manufacturer’s manual.

Although I would put the leaf blower, trimmer, and saw in the shed, I would store their charger and battery back inside the house. The reason is extreme temperatures might shorten the battery life. (P.S: Here’s a list of tools I’m using to maintain for my yard. Remember to check it out)

10) Winterize the Barbecue Grill Set

To extend the lifetime of a BBQ grill set, you should thoroughly clean it. Removing all the food debris and grease is important. You could do so with some soapy water, wire brush, and a sponge.

Make sure the gas is turned off, and inspect for any leakage. Never store the propane gas tank inside the house. They can present a severe hazard indoors. It should be left outdoors, but avoid direct exposure to sunlight.

Some users suggested wrapping the burner pipes and venturi tube with plastic so that insects cannot nest inside.

Then cover the entire unit. Usually, there should be a cover that comes with when you purchase the grill set. Animals might hide under it as it is relatively warmer. Be sure to tie the drawstrings at the bottom of the cover.

If there is enough space in a shed, I would prefer to store in it.

11) Keep Your Backyard Chicken Warm in Winter

We would wear extra layers of clothes, have a more insulated sleeping pad and tent when we go camping. Similarly, there are different preparation to keep the chickens warm in a backyard.

First, you should inspect the exterior of the coop (affiliate link). If there are any large holes, you should repair it so that rains or wind would not easily get in.

Remember to leave a window for ventilation. Without it, condensation would build up which makes the chicken feel very cold living inside. I like the ventilation window to be on the roof so that the wind would not blow directly to the chickens. But make sure to close it when it is raining or snowing.

The coop should be off the ground to reduce the heat loss. You should insulate the bedding so the chickens can lay there comfortably. Pine shaving, straw, shavings, dried leaves and grass clippings would be a good choice for insulation.

As I was reading articles on this topic, I came across there is a trick called the “Deep Litter Method.” It basically means that you do not need to clean out the chicken’s litter. Instead, you could mix them with the other bedding materials. Not only this compost layer will be insulation, but it also generates heat.

When it comes to spring, thoroughly clean the coop, and you could use this compost pile to enrich your garden.

12) Winterize a Backyard Swimming Pool

Having a pool is quite an investments for many families. The last thing you want to end up is the pool is ruined from freezing and bursting.

I personally do not have a pool in my yard, so I did some research online. [1]http://www.backyardcitypools.com/Swimming-Pool-Blog/why-leave-water-in-your-pool-for-winter/

To prepare the pool for the winter,

  • You should lower the water to below the skimmer level.
  • Clean the plumbing system to avoid frozen
  • Do not drain out all the water. It could damage the liner resulting in rips, tears, dry out, shrink and crack.
  • Add winterizing chemicals to balance the PH level. This will make your job a lot easier when you reopen the pool in spring.
  • Then use a pool cover to close it tightly.

So the above is my findings from the internet, but you should also check with a trusted pool maintenance company to see what’s the best way to care for your particular pool.

My Final Thought about Winterizing a Backyard

Besides the things mentioned above, there could be other items which need to be winterized. For example, cushions of the furniture, pot of plants, bicycle, and hammocks.

Maintaining for a backyard indeed requires some time and effort, but with proper caring, this could save you a tremendous amount of repairing and replacing costs down the road. It also ensures the safety of a child while playing in the backyard.

Winterizing a yard does not just mean putting away the summer items, but also the time to take out the winter equipment. (i.e., snow boots, shovel, snow blower). I hope you’ll find this post useful. Now, it’s time for me to start winterizing my yard.

 

 

 

Disclaimer: This content of this website is for general information, and do not intend to provide any specific advice. Although I’m trying my best in providing accurate information, I cannot guarantee they are error-free. Information displayed on this website could be subjected to change. For any medical-related question, you should always consult with your family doctor. For product related question, you should consult with the actual manufacturer.

Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. Please understand that I include them based on my experience or the research on these companies or products, and I recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.

 

 

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