Fall cleanup is a chore in any year, but a wet October makes it even trickier. Saturated lawns, clogged gutters, heavy leaves and lingering moisture can snowball into bigger problems once temperatures drop. The good news? A few smart hacks can turn fall yard prep from an uphill battle into a manageable weekend project, without feeling like you’ve signed up for a second job.
Here’s how to get the messy fall tasks out of the way now, so you can hibernate in peace later.
Clear Those Gutters Before They Freeze
When gutters stay packed with wet leaves, they don’t just clog – they collect ice, which weighs down the edge of the roof and forces meltwater back toward the shingles.
Hack: clean them when everything is dry, not after a rainfall. A quick leaf-blower run followed by a fast hose test clears more debris than scooping heavy wet leaves by hand. If you have gutter guards, lift a few sections to check for sludge – sitting moisture is what causes ice dams later.
Rake Smarter, Not Harder
This fall has been too wet for leaves to dry up and blow away on their own. If they mat down, they smother the lawn and invite mould all winter.
Hack: lay out a tarp and rake onto it, then drag the tarp to your compost or paper bag pile instead of hauling armfuls across the yard. Or, if your mower has a mulching feature, run it over dry leaves to turn them into instant soil nutrients.
Trim Back Plants Before They Trap Moisture
Perennials, vines, and shrubs that sit flush against the house can freeze against the siding and foundation, holding moisture in all winter.
Hack: trim anything within a few inches of your exterior wall or gutters. Not only does this protect your foundation, it makes spring pruning much lighter.
Check Downspouts and Drainage
With the amount of rain we’ve had this fall, downspouts are working overtime. If water pools beside the house now, it turns into ice ridges later — and that freeze-thaw cycle is what pushes water toward your foundation.
Hack: add a cheap pop-on flexible extension to redirect runoff at least 4–6 feet from your house. It’s a five-minute fix that can prevent a spring water issue.
Shut Off and Drain Exterior Water
Frozen water lines are a top cause of wintertime repair bills, especially after a heavy fall rainfall.
Hack: once you turn off the exterior valve inside the house, open the outdoor spigot and give the hose a final shake to release the last bit of water that sits inside the line. That’s the part that bursts when temperatures plunge.
Get Patio + Outdoor Living Spaces Winter-Ready
Wet cushions, frozen furniture feet, or waterlogged BBQ lines can all become headaches later.
Hack: instead of piling cushions in a corner of the garage, store them in breathable bags or bins so they don’t trap moisture. For furniture that stays outside, raise legs slightly off the deck with rubber pads to prevent freeze-swell cracking.
Test Your Sump Pump Now – Not During the First Storm
With back-to-back rainfall weeks behind us, this is the moment to do a quick function check.
Hack: pour a small bucket of water into the pit and make sure the pump activates. It takes 20 seconds and can save you from a flooded basement when snow melt and rain overlap in late November.
Prep the Garage Before the Snow Hits
Once salt season starts, everything drips and tracks inside.
Hack: lay down a plastic runner or absorbent mat now so slush doesn’t sit against stored tools, boxes or sports gear. It also keeps the concrete from degrading over repeated salt exposure.
Don’t Forget the Furnace
Even though this is “yard” cleanup, inside prep matters too once the house seals up for winter.
Hack: swap the filter before you turn the heat on full-time. This keeps your system efficient and avoids musty “first furnace” smells. If you’re overdue for a service, fall is the best time to book one before peak calls hit in January.
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Walk the property once before temperatures drop for good. Look for loose patio décor, tilted pavers, severed extension cords, sagging garden beds or anything that could freeze into place until April. Small fixes now mean fewer mysteries hiding under the snow later.
If you’d like to review your policy or double-check your coverage before winter sets in, our team is always happy to help. Contact us for support, anytime.
