Fall is the best time to care for your lawn. You will get a better kill on perennial weeds now than in the spring. The weed in the fall will be taking more nutrients down to the root for the winter and if you spray a weed killer now, they will take that down to the roots also. Use a chemical like Weed-B-Gon other any 2,4-D based herbicide. You can spray until a hard freeze (28 degrees).
Fall is also the best time to put on a fall-based fertilizer. This will help the lawn regain strength, especially after the long hot summer we had for better spring growth. You can apply anytime until the first of November. Mow the lawn before applying fertilizer leaving the grass clippings to insulate the lawn for the winter. Make sure the grass blades are dry and water afterward.
Whirligigs are outdoor objects that have a spinner and at least another moving part. The wind would blow the spinner and pump a little piston rod for another action. Usually, there were made of wood, then metal, and now, plastic. Common ones were birds with moving wings, wood chopper chopping wood, a man in a canoe rowing, etc.
Whirligigs become popular during the Great Depression when farmers with failing crops started to make them. They took them to town and sold them as cheap toys placed on a stick in the front yard. This is why they usually depict a rural scene.
More complex ones can display multiple scenes in motion. A garden whirligig makes a thumping sound on the ground to scare moles away.
There are some easy, free, or cheap steps in winterizing your home while the weather is still warm. One is cleaning out your gutters and eaves to allow melting snow to get away from your home. A clogged eave can allow melting snow to dam up and run down the wall of your home.
Clockwise fan blade direction
If you have ceiling fans, there is a switch to change the motion of the blades to move in a clockwise direction. This allows the warm upper air to push down to the floor.
If you have the older single-pane windows, you can get insulation film for the inside of the window. This will keep up the top 60% of the inside heat from leaking out. Using heavy curtains also helps. One of the best things I did was to replace the old windows and storm windows you a to put on every fall with double-pane energy efficient windows.
Rope caulk for window seams
If your windows leak around the outside edges, use rolled weatherstripping putty to seal the warm air from leaking outside. Any remaining gaps around the door or windows can be filled with caulk. If the home is older, you can pull off the moldings and fill the gaps with insulation or caulk.
Draft guards for doors
Draft guards are a good idea if you have a small exterior gap. These guards are placed under the door and will slide with opening and closing.
Replace furnace filters
Replace your furnace filters to keep your furnace running efficiently. Using a programmable thermostat or one use can use on your phone greatly helps. You can turn down the heat when you are not there and turn it up before you get home. Department of Energy states you save 1% for every degree you lower on your bill.
Insulated water pipes
If your water heater pipes are in a cooler area like a basement, get pre-slit pipe insulators or batt-style wrap for your hot water pipes.
If you have a fireplace, check it for obstructions and soot. There is a new product on the market, the chimney balloon use to run up your chimney.
If you are doing major upgrades like installing new windows or furnace, there may be federal tax credits so check with your accountant.
