Refresh Your Home for Fall

While September might mean the ending of summer, it's also a great time to figure out your Fall checklist for your lake place. There's plenty to do a far as Fall activities and get a leg up on Winter.

With the changing season in Lakes country, there is no shortage of activities.

Planting and Harvesting

With a couple of months of nice weather still ahead, you can plant annual flowers for a good, long show. Coleus and begonias add seasonal color and grow well in partial shade. Marigolds, pelargoniums, and zinnias add color to sunny spots.

Various flowers to plant in the Fall will bloom in the spring, so get some fall gardening done before the ground freezes. Consider planting these bulbs during Fall for spring flowers:

·    tulip

·    iris

·    daffodil

·    hyacinth

·    lilies

If you're interested in making compost, now is the time to do it—alternate layers of grass and garden clippings and non-meat kitchen waste in a pile about 4' wide. Water the pile and turn it once a week to make your very own compost for your fall garden.

Prune Dead Limbs, Branches, Plants, and More.

Dead tree limbs and branches will pose a danger in the Winter because the wind, ice, and snow can cause them to break off. So, get yourself ahead of this problem by pruning away dead branches and limbs and pulling out any dead plants or shrubs.

Fall is a great time to spend outside improving your shoreline.

Fall Cleaning

PATIO CARE

If you have a natural stone patio or walkway, it will naturally accumulate grime and dirt over the summer. In August, you should clean your stone surfaces to restore their beauty.

Wipe any dust or debris from the stone, and clean the surface using a gentle, neutral-pH cleaner and a soft cloth. You can also apply a coat of water-based penetrating sealer to protect your tiles from developing additional stains over the Fall and Winter.

PEST CONTROL

Late summer is when the flying pests become their most problematic.

Mosquitoes are more active, wasps are more aggressive, and spending any time outdoors can often result in stings or bites.

Take a walk around your property and empty any sources of standing or stagnant water.

If you have wasps (or the famous Perham Yellow Jackets), then you need to locate where they're coming from. Scan your yard to see where they're emerging from and returning to. Once you discover their nest, apply a wasp treatment near the opening. Reapply it every couple of days until you no longer see any wasps.

Outdoor Project

Once you've dealt with the mosquitos and wasps, August can be a great time to get some projects wrapped up for the year.

Make use of the long August days to finish up any outdoor projects you started (or intended to create) over the summer, from cleaning the gutters to painting or sealing your deck.

Speaking of the outdoors, why not enjoy the weather while we're at it.

Now is a great time to start your firewood pile. When the winter months roll around, you'll be glad you did. With the dew-filled morning, make sure firewood can sit outside and stay moisture-free.

If you don't yet have a home but you're in the market, then check out our map for the perfect lake home location. This time next year, you'll be prepping your lake home for Fall!