By 
With winter temperatures approaching, the days of soaking up the sun on your outdoor patio may seem far out of reach. Fortunately, you can maximize your outdoor patio all year long, rain or sunshine.
There are various creative ways to elevate your beautiful patio and continue enjoying your outdoor living spaces, even with the season of snowfall on its way. Here is a list of seven must-know strategies for winterizing your outdoor patio and ensuring your patio furniture remains as intact and functional as possible.
Eradicate Pests
A pest infestation can cause massive damage to your patio. Pests will not only feed on your beautiful outdoor plants and flowers, but some pests like termites can destroy your furniture and wooden decks. For that reason, you need to figure out the best ways possible to eradicate these pesky creatures.
Instead of drenching your outdoor patio in potent store-bought pesticides, there are DIY strategies you can employ for pest-free outdoor living spaces. To keep pests away, use fungicides, insecticidal soaps, traps, and natural pesticides. If all these methods fail, you may need to hire professional pest control services to help you deal with pests on your patio.
Protect Your Patio Furniture
The first step to winterizing your outdoor space is to clean the furniture and the surrounding area. Debris, moisture, and dirt left on the textiles, cushions, and furniture can cause mildew and mold growth, damaging your furniture.
Ensure you properly wash the fabrics with water and soap, to remove all the stains. Allow them to dry in the sun before covering or storing to prevent substance growth.
Also, clean the fountains, flowerpots, and any other patio décor. Use a broom to remove debris and a brush to scrub the hard-to-clean areas in order to prevent stains.
Cover
If you don’t have sufficient space to keep your outdoor furniture, umbrellas, small appliances, and garden accessories during cold days, you may need to use waterproof furniture covers. They will help protect your patio furniture from extreme weather conditions like snow, wind, sleet, and rain. Still, if you’re planning to keep the furniture in your house, covers can protect against pests, dirt, and dust.
Store
Another great way to winterize your patio furniture and other items is to store them safely. Storage sheds, garages, or basements can be ideal storage locations. Keeping your furniture inside helps protect them against rust and harsh weather conditions.
Items made of stone and wicker need to be stored inside since extreme temperatures can cause wicker to warp and stone to crack. Don’t forget to keep containers, planters, and pots to protect them against mildew growth and decay.
Maintenance
Extreme winter conditions can severely damage your outdoor space and deck surfaces. It’s essential to repair your concrete patio or wood deck so it can withstand the cold season. When it comes to repairing a stone or concrete patio, ensure you replace broken stones, patch chips, and fill in all the cracks. Similarly, to repair a wooden deck, be sure to secure railings, re-level stairs, tighten screws, change rotting boards, and repair peeling areas.
Clean and Protect the Grill
The grill is an important component of your outdoor life, and it also needs proper protection. Ensure you clean and store it appropriately. If it burns wood or charcoal, be sure to empty the ashes and clean the grates. But if your grill uses gas, disconnect the gas line and keep the gas tank in a cool, dry place in a storage shed.
Enclose Your Patio
Another effective way to winterize your outdoor space is to enclose the area to protect it from harsh weather elements. Use clear vinyl curtains for the partially enclosed patio to prevent snow, leaves, and rain from damaging your patio. You can also add screened porches to retain heat and protect the screens.
Final word
Winter can have a significant impact on your outdoor space and patio furniture. It’s essential to find ways to extend the lifespan of your outdoor living space. To accomplish this purpose, plant trees and foliage to block some of these winter elements. Create shelter for your patio and add some heat source to keep it warm and comfortable. Lastly, invest in quality seating to enhance comfort and light up your patio to make it brighter and livelier.
Comments