Preparing Your Outdoor Space for Seasonal Storms
Seasonal storms can be fascinating to watch, but devastating to the environment and your home. It also feels like they are getting stronger every year. Flash floods, severe winds and inches of rain are common these days, so it helps to prepare your home for an incoming storm. From bringing loose items inside to clearing the gutters, here are some useful suggestions.
Protect the Garden
A severe storm can give a home a battering, but the garden is likely to get the worst of it. Trees, prunes and shrubs will probably see some damage, and there’s not much you can do. However, you can prepare the greenery for a storm and protect it enough that it may not be beyond saving. Pruning, covers, and anchors are recommended. You can also find a tree surgeon for professional advice or to rectify any damage after the storm has passed.
Bring Loose Items Inside
Most people have loose items in the front and back yard. Decorations, tables, chairs and things the kids play with, we all have them. While these can help people enjoy their gardens, loose items can become deadly and damaging missiles when the wind hits hard. Anything that can be safely brought inside should be. Even if it is temporary, find some space until the storm has passed. Of course, storage space like a shed, garage or unit is best for protecting your stuff.
Secure Large Items for Seasonal Storms
In the UK alone, storms cause around £300 million of damage each year on average. While you can stormproof your home by bringing smaller items inside, not everything can be hauled indoors. Heavy furniture, children’s toys like trampolines and slides, and even free-standing sheds are examples. However, you can secure these using ropes, chains and anchors. Anything that can be moved by strong wind should be secured and covered from the rain.
Clear the Gutters and Drains
The gutters are vital for the correct drainage from a home. If they fail, then you risk water coming into your house and causing issues like leaking, dampness and even deadly mould such as stachybotrys. When you know a storm is coming, prepare the home by checking the gutters for debris and other blockages like ice and clear them out. Then, when it is safe, check the gutters again once the storm has passed and once again remove anything that can block water.
Keep a Close Eye on the Weather
Storms can be unpredictable, but we always know well in advance before they arrive. Even severe and fast-moving storms such as hurricanes can take up to a week to make landfall. Keeping an eye on the weather is perhaps the best defence you have against storms. With advance notice, you can pre-prepare the home for anything a storm can throw at it. Radio, TV and smartphone apps are a great way to stay informed and abreast of an incoming situation.
Protecting the garden might not be your first thought when a seasonal storm is incoming, but plants need help, too. Of course, it helps to secure small and large items to reduce damage to them and to the house. But just keeping an eye on the weather can be the best defence.
This is a collaborative post.
