Inclement Weather: How to Prepare your Yard

The Yard

So your yard is perfect. After much time, effort, and money, finally the weeds are tamed, the woodchips or stones are all in place, the trees are pruned, and everything is just how you want it.

Except there’s one problem. A storm is rolling in, and we all know how inclement weather can ruin everything. Bad winds, heavy rain, or hail can devastate your best laid plans and your nicest outdoor decorations.

So what is to be done about the storm? Obviously, clouds can’t be stopped and you can’t protect what is outside.

Well, actually, you may be able to do more than you think.

The Storm: Preparing

You probably don’t want to run out fifteen minutes before a storm arrives and begin what ‘defenses’ this article suggests. That would not work too well, since it will probably take much longer than a quarter of an hour, and one thing worse than your outside being destroyed by a storm, is you being destroyed by a storm.

Now, down to the suggestions. How do you go about preparing your yard for a thunderstorm? Let’s start with your yard items.

• First, check to make sure all of your borders are sturdy, and mounted well above the stones/woodchips, so that the stones/woodchips do not washout.

• Secure lose items, such as statues, wind chimes, vases, suncatchers, and any other outdoor decorations to stop winds from blowing them away and breaking them.

• Tie down porch furniture (You don

• Move even well secured fragile items inside, in case of hale.

• Cover fragile plants such as flowers, tomato plants, or young trees.

Special Preparations

There is also work that needs done in places you normally don’t think of. Storms can blow debris and dirt onto sidewalks, and wind can snap branches, or knock tress over. Special care is needed to deal with these issues, though, completely stopping them is all but impossible.

• Places where there is dirt higher than the sidewalk/patio need taken care of. Plant grass there or level off the area. Otherwise, that dirt will wash onto the sidewalk/patio.

• As much loose debris as possible should be swept up and thrown away (e.g., fallen leaves, cut grass)

• Dead/weak branches should be cut off of trees so they don’t fall down.

• Dead/weak trees should be cut down if there is a major threat from the storm. (This may be hard to carry out, but a tree that falls is a large issue.)

• If there is a temporary or permanent swimming pool, it should be covered, to minimize the amount of debris found in it.

The Finale

This article is by no means a full list of the preparations you can make to keep your yard in fair shape during and after a storm, but it’s a good place to start. Be creative, and keep ahead of your yard and the pesky weather.