News and Events

Old Man Winter is on the way! Dropping temperatures and the change of the seasons bring the excitement of the upcoming holidays, travel and the simple pleasure of enjoying a mug of hot cocoa on a cold night.

As we move from autumn into winter we at Park Avenue Properties will be running a mini-series on winter home care, so you can make the most of your home sweet home. From energy saving tips to buttoning up your home while you travel, we’ve got you covered! Keep an eye out for new installments of this exciting mini-series. 

For now, let’s dig into our first installment: autumn lawn and exterior home care!

Many people think that once the leaves begin to change and the chill of autumn arrives that it’s time to pack up the lawn tools for the year. In reality, autumn is a crucial time for your lawn and the exterior of your home. This is the perfect time to prepare the necessary protections for the coming winter and sow your seeds for a beautiful yard next spring! 

Regardless of whether you plan to be in your rental home for just this one season or through the coming year, many of these tips will help you enjoy your rental property over the winter without cold weather related maintenance complications that can cause distress and discomfort. Remember that a little planning ahead can save you from an inconvenience and a headache down the road. 

The Change of the Leaves
Everyone loves to see the bright, warm colors spread over the trees! It just wouldn’t be autumn without those gorgeous fall colors. But once the season begins to come to a close, those beautiful leaves drop off and can become hazardous to our lawns and home exteriors. 

Be sure to rake or mulch any leaves that collect over the lawn. It is important not to wait until the trees are bare to do this. Leaves that are left on the lawn for too long will become wet and cake together creating a barrier over the lawn that will allow for the growth of fungus while smothering the grass. 

Instead of letting those leaves collect, enjoy a relaxing autumn day raking leaves and taking in the cooler, crisper weather. You might even find yourself jumping in those big piles of raked leaves! 

Another important thing to consider is the gutters of the home. Often times we forget that the gutters are a perfect collection place for fallen leaves. Clogged gutters can become hazardous to the home over the winter and can cause damage to the exterior and interior of the home. If the gutters are not functioning properly and water is not able to flow away from the roof, you may end up with water in the walls or leaking in through the roof. Don’t let a lack of preparation ruin your winter! 

Convenience tip: At the end of November and beginning of December, many people are decorating with holiday lights. This is a perfect opportunity to check the gutters for fallen leaves and clear out any debris that might be up there. 

Fall In Love With Your Lawn 
There are a few things you can do to help get your lawn in peak condition to weather the coming winter. If you give your lawn some love in the autumn, it will love you back in the spring! 

Remember that it is important to continue regular lawn maintenance into the early winter. Just because the leaves change doesn’t mean it’s time to retire the lawn mower for the year!

One of the simplest things you can do for your lawn is to mow it a little shorter. In the fall, plan to cut grass about one to two inches shorter than you have earlier in the year. For your last mow of the year, in early winter, plan to cut the grass down just a bit shorter still. 

Consider reseeding the lawn. When a yard gets a lot of traffic you may find that the grass begins to look a little sparse and bald spots may appear. Autumn is the perfect time to grow fresh seedlings that will be robust enough the handle the cold of winter. 

Lawn aeration is another important option in the fall for keeping your lawn looking it’s best all year long. Again, important for lawns that get a lot of traffic, lawn aeration helps to decompress packed soil and allows for the roots to get the nutrients they need. Lawn aerators can be rented from most major home improvement stores.

Money saving tip: Ask your neighbors if they are interested in aerating their lawns as well. If you ask around, you may be able to share the cost of the aerator rental and maybe even work together to get the jobs done quicker! 

The Finish of Fall, the Finishing Touches
As the fall season closes out, there are a few last things you may want to do to protect your home and your wallet. 

Freezing weather is on the way, prevent exterior pipes from freezing, or bursting, by turning off the valve to outdoor water supplies, like the hose, and draining out the remaining water in the pipes. Broken pipes can cause a renter trouble during the winter months. Don’t let it happen to you!

Clean all your lawn care tools and get them stored away for the winter. This is a great time to do a little end of year maintenance on your lawn mower. Taking the time to maintain your tools means protecting the investment you made in them. If you care for them now, they will be there for you for years to come. 

As the weather begins to go from cool to cold, you may want to store away any lawn furniture you’ve kept out in the elements. Protecting your lawn furniture from the freezing temperatures and snow will keep them looking nice for when you are ready to celebrate the return of comfortable temperatures in the spring. 

We at Park Avenue Properties are here to help! We know that maintaining your rental home can be a challenge; feel free to give us a call with any of your winter preparation questions. If you have any concerns over the winter months, let us know. We would be happy to discuss the issue and help resolve it. 

Enjoy the remainder of autumn and keep an eye out for our next installment of our winter home care series! Also, if you haven’t already, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, check out our Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube channel for exciting home tours!