FALL IS COMING-PREPPING THE YARD AND THE MIND
My kids know Fall is not my favorite time of year.
I can hear a collective gasp from my readers. At least all those who relish the smell of fall leaves and the crisp bite to the October air.
But ever since I was a kid, Fall was anxiety-inducing. Two reasons, I've discovered. First, I have Seasonal Affective Disorder, so Winter is a difficult season for me, and Fall means Winter is on its way. Second, I never liked school, and since Fall means the beginning of another school year, the sight of the first orange leaves on the trees is a downer, even now, so MANY years later.
How do my kids respond? By making sure I see those first fall leaves on the mountainside. They'll take my hand and drag me outside and point to the mountains, or they'll text me photos of the very first hints of color. Because they all LOVE Fall. Bunch of weirdos.
Fall also means a lot of work around my house.
I'm a gardener. I have flower gardens and a big vegetable garden and a small orchard. There's a lot of trimming and cleanup and harvesting and preserving to do, all before the leaves start falling.
Those of you in condos and apartments and townhouses are sitting back smiling right now. You don't have to worry about any of this. Maybe you're thinking about updating your Fall wardrobe or making sure the oil in the car gets changed before it the cold settles in. Maybe you have a plant on your little patio that needs to be brought inside. So sweet.
Me, and people of my ilk, are gluttons for punishment, I suppose. But it's worth it. I love having my big shady yard to play and relax in--privately. I love wandering out to the garden to grab a few ultra-fresh veggies for dinner. I love kicking the ball around with my leashless dog. I even love the smell of the earth and the feel of the dirt under my fingernails.
But those joys only come from hard work.
It's useful this time of year for me to review my checklist of tasks around the house and yard that need to be done before the snow flies. That's exactly what Fall is for.
Here we go!
Around the house:
- Replace the furnace filter before firing the furnace up. Every few years, have an HVAC professional inspect and tune up the furnace as well.
- Clear rain gutters and downspouts.
- Make a quick check of your roof for any damage to shingles or soffits. Check exterior surfaces for problems that may lead to over-winter water damage.
- If you have a fireplace, check your flu and chimney for damage or buildup. Have them cleaned.
- Test your sump pump if you have one to make sure it's working well.
- Replace batteries in smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors.
- Check seals on doors and windows. Replace as needed.
- Set ceiling fans to spin clockwise. They'll push warm air from your ceilings down into the room for more even heating.
- Make sure water pipes in unheated areas of the home are insulated.
- Check vehicles for needed fluids. Have oil and oil filters changed. Check tires for wear. Replace with all-season tires, or rotate to snow tires as needed.
Around the yard:
- Winterize sprinkler systems. Drain pipes and water pumps. Clean filters.
- Rake fallen leaves frequently to prevent damage to lawns.
- Remove and drain exterior hoses. Shut off outdoor spigots.
- Store or cover outdoor furniture.
- Trim tree limbs that have grown too close to roofs, buildings, or power lines.
- Test your snowblower and inspect snow shovels. Get them out of the shed before they get snowed in.
- Rake leaves. Use them to mulch non-evergreen perennials in garden beds with 2-4 inches of leaves.
- Aerate the lawn. Overseed bare spots. Apply an overwinter fertilizer--high in phosphorous to help grass build deep roots.
- Give the lawn a final low mow before the first freeze.
- Clear spent annuals from garden beds. Trim non-evergreen perennials down to about half their height to prevent snow and frost damage.
- Plant early spring bulbs, like tulips, daffodils, and crocuses.
- Clean and store yard tools. Sharpen trimming blades so they'll be ready for next year.
- Bring winter-sensitive perennials indoors. Put them in a sunny window to give them plenty of light.
- Harvest the last of the garden veggies and put the garden to bed by removing dead and dying plants and tilling in leaves from the yard.
But there's something else some of us need to do this fall.
We need to give our nervous systems a boost!
Here's how to prepare your mind for the coming winter:
- As the days grow shorter, establish a daily light therapy routine. 20 to 30 minutes in front of a 10,000 lux light box is ideal.
- Be extra careful to maintain or establish healthy sleep and exercise habits.
- Make it a point to get some natural light exposure every day, if possible. Open drapes and blinds at first light every morning. Get outside during the day for that all-important Vitamin D boost.
- Socialize! Even if you're an introvert, you're better off during the winter months if you spend time with others.
- Make plans for future events. Give yourself solid things to look forward to and reasons to get up in the morning.
- Make a plan to eat a healthy diet. Make a concerted effort to avoid empty carbohydrates.
- Color. What? Color? Absolutely. The benefits of coloring are proven. Don't believe me? How about the Mayo Clinic. Would you believe the Mayo Clinic? Coloring Is Good for Your Health
So grab your colored pencils or buy yourself a sweet new set of markers and get coloring!!
Here are some of our coloring products that I think would help me get through the winter doldrums. They're all about spring and summer and flowers and color, and a few that are just silly enough that they put a smile on my face every time. Maybe they'll be just the ticket for you, too!
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