How To Winterize Your Yard in Chicago
Temperatures are dropping, and those early sunsets will soon have everyone retreating indoors instead of spending evenings on the patio. While there are still a few weeks left of decent weather for brave midwesterners to enjoy their fire tables, upgraded overhead patio heaters and next-gen outdoor TVs, it's time to start thinking about how to winterize your yard in Chicago—you don't want an early frost to catch you by surprise. And while we've covered a bit of winter home prep in our Learn Center, this is a different topic entirely. And if you've invested in your outdoor space, you deserve to have it protected through tough midwestern winters. Learn more about how to winterize your yard in Chicago below.
Take Care of Your Lawn
To start, make sure you take care of your garden and grass. Fallen leaves, long grass and extra shrubbery all need to be cleaned up. A lot of that should be done manually or with some human involvement ... but did you know that there are robot lawnmowers? Navimow robotic lawn mowers can handle yards of all different sizes, and even complex backyards. However you mow your grass, you'll want to set it for a short height, no more than two inches. The goal is to eliminate potential moisture and prevent snow mold, all for a beautiful lawn in the spring. It's how to winterize your yard in Chicago: taking care of the nature you're responsible for. There's lots more to do, like emptying out and storing your water hoses, deactivating your irrigation systems, and taking care of plants and trees. That can involve mulching or, for potted trees, even bringing them indoors.
Give Everything a Deep Clean
Whether you'll be storing outdoor furniture in a garage or covering your backyard furniture up with dedicated water-resistant covers, you'll want to make sure that your yard furnishings are as clean (and dry) as possible. That means treating materials with the proper cleaning agents: for some, that could be vinegar and baking soda, while others may do better with dish soap and warm water. Do your homework—we have a guide for how to clean your grill. You'll find out the best way to clean your gear, and you'll learn how to winterize your yard in Chicago the right way. Dirt, grime, grease and dampness all need to go before it's time to take care of the true work—keeping out the effects of cold weather. And make sure everything dries out all the way before it's time to cover up. Don't forget to remove all leaves, sticks and twigs as well. No one wants a leaf-shaped watermark on their grill for the rest of its lifetime.
Clean & Cover Up Outdoor TVs, Grills & Seating
Next up, covers and protection. Whether you love to grill, have invested in an outdoor TV or enjoy spending time outdoors on your sectional in the summer, it's a good idea to keep your outdoor appliances and furniture covered and clean when you're not using them. Why? Not everything is water-resistant and snow-proof, and melting ice can be extremely damaging to certain materials. When it comes to outdoor TVs, you'll want to ensure that both the screen and the cable connections are completely sealed with a weather-resistant cover to keep out snow, ice and water. For furniture, you may even want to store it away from the weather if you can; you'll further improve the longevity of your tables, chairs and sectionals. Umbrellas should be closed and put away. Whenever possible, store furniture in a clean and dry place—it's how to winterize your yard in Chicago. Otherwise, use a weatherproof cover. And what if you don't have a weatherproof cover? There's a chance we have one at Abt if you bought something for your yard from us. Call us at 800-860-3577 if you're having a hard time finding the right cover for your grill, furniture or outdoor TV, and our specialists can help you. But before you cover your furniture up, make sure it's well-cleaned. Use a sponge, warm water and laundry detergent to gently scrub away dirt and outdoor debris. Let things dry, then store or cover. For more safety and to prevent any damage from high winds, anchor furniture against high winds by tying things down.
When it comes to winterizing and storing a stand-alone grill after you've cleaned it, you may want to take a few extra steps. For pellet grills, you'll want to empty out the pellet hopper, and for propane grills, you'll want to turn the propane tank's gas valve to "Off". You can store the tank outside over the winter, but it's a good idea to check for leaks. No matter what, do not bring a propane tank indoors.
Clean & Store Cushions
Whether you have a complete outdoor sectional set or just a few cushions on a set of chairs for your balcony, you'll want to make sure they're clean and protected; it's how to winterize your yard in Chicago. If you don't, the chances of mold, mildew and water damage shoot up—and your cushions will likely degrade. To keep them looking their best for as long as possible, make sure they're protected. Start by cleaning them in the way that's best for the material. That can often mean wiping them down and then using dish soap and water to clean away any remaining residue, or using a mix of white vinegar and water. If the manufacturer recommends a different cleaning method, use that instead. Before you store the cushions, make sure that everything is dry to avoid mold growth. Store these in a garage, shed, basement or attic to keep them dry and out of the way.
What About My Outdoor Kitchen?
If you have an outdoor kitchen, you've invested in the perfect backyard, so you're likely wondering how to winterize your yard in Chicago properly. Outdoor kitchens can be packed with high-tier appliances, from impressive (and expensive) built-in grills to compact refrigerators, pizza ovens, kegerators, sinks and more. To make sure they stay fun in the summer, you're going to want each of these appliances to be properly maintained before the first freeze.
- Built-In Grill: Clean the grill using the same methods we suggested in our grill cleaning guide, and don't forget to take care of the grates as well. The goal is to make sure there is no grease or food residue left inside the grill, so you'll want to clean the grates, clean beneath the grates and take care of the surface of the grill as well. If you'd like to continue cooking outdoors throughout the rest of the year, it's still a good idea to clean out your grill—especially in the wintertime when pests seek both warmth and food. Either way, it's a good idea to cover up your built-in grill with the dedicated weather-resistant cover when it's not in use.
- Sink: You'll want to shut off any water lines leading to your outdoor kitchen if you have a sink, ice maker or refrigerator. The goal is to keep frozen water out of both pipes and appliances, so you'll want to ensure that no water is left in your sink, either. Open up your hot and cold water faucets to remove any excess water. Keep the sink covered.
- Outdoor Refrigerator or Wine Cooler: Unplug and/or shut off the circuit breaker that leads to the refrigerator, making sure that the water lines are turned off and drained as well. Like with the grill, it's a good idea to clean this outdoor appliance to make sure it's as empty and clean as possible. Make sure the appliance is dry before calling the task finished and being one step closer to winterizing your yard in Chicago. Unless otherwise directed by the manufacturer, keep this uncovered. Many suggest leaving the refrigerator door open partially—it can help prevent the growth of mold.
- Ice Machine/Ice Maker: Follow the same steps as the compact outdoor refrigerator, shutting down and draining water lines. Unless otherwise directed by the manufacturer, keep this covered up.
- Pizza Oven: Follow the manufacturer's instructions, but as a general rule, cover up your outdoor pizza oven when temperatures drop. If you'll be using yours in the winter on and off, you'll want to be careful how you heat it to avoid thermal shock—which can crack and permanently damage your oven. To stay on the safe side, build your fire very gradually, and wait longer to add food inside in lower temperatures.
- Undercounter Beverage Dispenser, or Kegerator: Remove the keg from the kegerator and wipe down the interior to remove any remaining moisture; drain and clean the beer lines and shut off the power.
Don't Forget Pools, Saunas & Other Outdoor Upgrades
Everyone's outdoor space is different, so make sure you're taking care of every inch of it when you're figuring out how to winterize your yard. In Chicago, having a pool is an amazing benefit during the warm months—but taking care of it in cold weather is key. The same goes for other outdoor upgrades like hot tubs, saunas and even the surface of your deck or patio. Do your research and look into how to winterize your yard in Chicago when it comes to these larger outdoor fixtures. They're true investments, and you want them to last for years to come. If you have questions, reach out to the specialists and experts who helped you purchase and install your backyard fixtures. They can help you understand how to winterize your yard in the best way possible.
Learn How to Winterize Your Yard at Abt
Whether you have a gas grill on a cart, a patio table set or a complete outdoor kitchen, your outdoor space needs to be protected for the winter, and we hope we've helped cover how to winterize your yard in Chicago completely. If you have more questions, you can reach out to us here at Abt at 800-860-3577. We have some more articles about taking care of your outdoor essentials and prepping your home for the winter in our Learn Center, too.
