35 Tips for Tackling All of Your Fall Projects

Once the dog days of summer give way to the cooler temperatures of fall, it’s time to get your house in shape for the change of seasons. Fall is the perfect time of year to work outside, with just enough of a nip in the air to make it pleasant, but not so much that you need a heavy coat. Before Old Man Winter comes calling, take advantage of these temperate days to tackle our to-do list of 35 projects.

Insects love nothing better than overwintering beneath dead flowers, leaves, and other plant material, so roll up the welcome mat by raking away fallen leaves, pulling spent annuals, pruning perennials and roses, and clearing out your summer vegetables before frost strikes.

Related: 9 Tricks for Fast and Easy Fall Yard Cleanup

Once nighttime temperatures sink below 50 degrees, it’s time for your tender container plants to move indoors for the season. Before carrying them into your house or to a protected spot in the garage, first clip away any dead or damaged leaves and branches, then check carefully for insects; treat, if necessary.

Related: Winterize Your Lawn and Garden in 7 Steps

According to the National Fire Protection Association, three out of every five residential fire deaths occur in a home that either has no smoke detector at all, or a smoke detector with nonfunctioning batteries. Don’t let your family become a statistic. Check your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at the very least twice a year, once in the fall and again in the spring. 

Related: 14 Bad Habits That Could Burn Down Your House

It’s a good idea to have your home's chimney inspected and swept before fireplace season gets underway. This job is best done by a pro—expect to pay around $150 to $200—but if you're comfortable up on the roof, you can do some preliminary work yourself. First, clear out any fallen leaves, bird’s nests, or other debris from the chimney, and repair any small cracks in the masonry with refractory cement, which is formulated to withstand high heat. Ensure that the damper moves smoothly and isn’t cracked, rusted, or warped, and then clean away soot, creosote, and ash.

Related: 7 Mistakes Not to Make with Your Fireplace

If you have an asphalt driveway, reseal it in the fall when temperatures are between 50 and 70 degrees and no rain is in the forecast. For most areas, that means late September to early October. To start, sweep away dirt, leaves, and other debris from the asphalt, and then pour asphalt sealant over the driveway. Using an asphalt squeegee, evenly spread the sealant across the driveway’s entire surface. Let the sealant cure for at least 24 hours before parking on the driveway.

Winter can be hard on your roof, when rain, snow, freezing temperatures, and high winds all take their toll. That’s why fall is the best time to make sure your roof is up to the challenge and complete any necessary repairs before cold weather sets in. You can hire a professional for this service or, if you're up to the task, do it yourself.

As they say, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, and the second best time is now. If “now” happens to be autumn, you're in luck! The cooler temperatures and moisture help the tree establish roots before the hot and stressful summer weather. To ensure success, mulch your newly planted tree to keep the roots insulated. Water regularly if there's not enough rain, but don’t fertilize until spring. Avoid heavy pruning, other than trimming away any broken branches. And if a severe cold snap is in the forecast, wrap a blanket or piece of burlap over the tree for a little extra protection while it gets established.

Related: 10 of the Best Trees for Any Backyard

With summer fun in the rearview mirror, fall is the time for getting back to business. Creating an organization HQ for the whole family is a great way to help you stay on task. Put it in a central location like the kitchen, mudroom, or back entryway, where the whole family can see it. Include a large wall calendar or weekly schedule, a whiteboard for appointment reminders or shopping lists, and a bulletin board for important announcements or incoming and outgoing school forms. If your family uses a chore chart or meal planning chart, this would be the place to put it. Set up caddies to collect keys and other daily necessities so they'll be easy to find and won't clutter up the rest of the house.

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Fall leaves and winter snow can cause your patio furniture to fade, stain, and rust, so protect it by covering it with outdoor-rated patio furniture covers or placing it inside your shed, garage, or screened porch. Before you put the pieces away for the season, give them a proper cleaning with mild soap and water to remove dust, pollen, and mold. Treat wicker with lemon oil to keep it moisturized over the dry winter months and protect it from mildew.

Related: 9 Ways to Extend Patio Season into Fall

Fall weather can be uncertain. Although one day may be warm and sunny, the next may bring freezing rain or snow. Try to stretch your patio and grilling season as far as possible, but be ready to pack the grill away at a moment's notice by giving it a thorough cleaning early in the fall and then touching it up after every use. Soak and scour the grates, clean under the hood, remove any foil or food particles from the interior, and wipe down the exterior. That way, when foul weather moves in for good, you can quickly cover the grill and store it for the season. 

Cool-season grasses, like bluegrass and tall fescue, benefit from a fall application of fertilizer. Fertilize your lawn with a slow-release formula about one week before you mow for the last time in the season. Homeowners in colder climes should look for high-nitrogen formulas that offer winter weather protection. 

That stunning fall foliage may look good on the trees in your front yard, but when those leaves drop they can make a mess of your gutters. More than unsightly, leaves and other debris can clog the gutters, posing a real hazard in winter when rain and snow thaw and freeze inside gutters and form dangerous ice dams. Protect your home from damage by removing leaves, sticks, and other debris from gutters now, and consider installing a leaf guard to keep your gutters clean with very little effort on your part.

Related: 15 Tricks to Know If You Hate Fall Yard Work

It may seem counterproductive to turn on a ceiling fan during the coldest months of the year, but in fact a ceiling fan helps maintain comfortable temperatures even in the winter. Set your fan to rotate in a clockwise direction (opposite its operating direction in summer), and run it on low speed to create an updraft. This tactic draws the room air up and forces the warm air near the ceiling down and through the room.

Because water expands as it freezes, it's important to disconnect and drain garden hoses before temperatures drop to prevent them from bursting or leaking. Store hoses in a covered area like the garage or a tool shed to protect them from harsh weather. Turn off and drain your sprinkler system, and shut off your outdoor faucets before nighttime temperatures dip below 50 degrees.

Related: 10 Things to Do Now for a Better Garden Next Year

It’s easier to identify dead limbs before your trees drop their leaves, so early fall is a good time to trim back dead branches. Trimming your trees now is more than an aesthetic choice—it can protect your trees and home from damage. In freezing conditions, dead limbs can become heavy with ice and break off, ending up on your roof or lawn, or posing a safety issue for family and passersby alike.

Related: The 12 Fall Home Maintenance Tasks You Can't Ignore

For as long as there have been air conditioning covers, people have debated whether they're a good idea. Advocates love covers for the way they keep ice and debris out of the machinery, while detractors fear that covers can create ideal habitats for rodents and other pests that can nest within the wiring. Whatever the case, homeowners who live in colder regions should consider at least covering the top of their outside AC condenser unit with a tarp or sheet of plywood, even if they leave the rest of the unit exposed. Window units, on the other hand, should be removed, cleaned, and stored in a safe place until they're needed again in the summer.

Give your HVAC system a fresh start with a new furnace filter. Furnace filters help maintain cleaner indoor air and keep your home heating system in good working order. Continue to change the filter every few months until you turn off your heat for the season. 

Related: 10 Places You’re Forgetting to Winter-Proof

Clogged dryer vents can cause a perfectly good appliance to operate more slowly and less efficiently, but more importantly they pose a serious fire hazard. Clean out your dryer vents at least once a year to speed up laundry day, keep energy bills low, and protect your home from fires. You can do the job yourself with a vacuum cleaner and a long dowel or wire hanger (if you're careful not to damage the vent), or hire a pro to do the job for you.

Related: 10 Little Signs Your House Has a Big Problem

Mold counts are on the rise at this time of year, exacerbating indoor allergies. Mount an effective defense by giving your carpets a thorough cleaning. Rent a carpet cleaner or hire a professional service to deep clean your carpeting, giving special attention to the bedrooms and high-traffic areas. If you've been thinking about removing your carpeting in order to breathe more easily, now might be the time to do it. Who knows—you may even have well-protected hardwood floors hiding under those old carpets!

Don't wait until the first snowstorm of the season to stock up on snow removal supplies. Buy an emergency stash of de-icer, salt, and sand (or kitty litter, in a pinch) to give you traction in slippery situations. Some home centers start selling these supplies as early as September and October, but if your local shop doesn't carry them, you can certainly buy them from online retailers.

Have you ever cranked up the heat in late fall and waited for your radiators to circulate warm air through your home, only to discover that one or more of your radiators remains cold to the touch? If a radiator isn't working when the rest of your system is operating normally, it's usually a sign that air is trapped inside. This problem can be avoided by bleeding the radiators at the beginning of the season. To do this, first turn off the heat, then engage the bleed valve with a radiator key. Wait for the hissing sound to stop and a stream of water to pour from the radiator before closing up the bleed valve. 

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Cracks happen, and it's important to take care of them before winter freezes make them worse. To repair cracks in concrete walkways, patios, or driveways, first clear away any dirt or debris from the damaged area, and then fill in the crack with masonry crack filler or concrete patch. Once you’ve filled the crack, smooth the edges of the new material with a trowel, and let the repair cure overnight.

Related: 9 Things to Repair in Your Home Before It's Too Late

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