Is your house ready for winter?

Windsorites are being encouraged to get their house prepared for the winter.

As winter approaches, local companies say Windsorites need to prepare their home and gardens for harsh temperatures.

John Degroot is the owner of Degroots Nurseries in Windsor.  He said he has worked with plants for many years and knows what it will take to help them survive the cold.

“Not all plants are planted in the summer,” said Degroot. “Most plants prefer to be planted in the fall because they love being covered in snow. Snow is a great insulator for them.”

According to the website Better Home and Gardens, preparing your garden for winter is mostly based upon covering up plants, shrubs and trees and cleaning out the area. As the temperatures drop, take out the dead stems and leaves of flowers and vegetables to prevent the spreading of bad pathogens and bacterial diseases throughout the winter.

Degroot said Canadians should cover and wrap their plants in burlap to protect them from both snow and wind.

Experts at Home Depot say protecting your garden is just as important as taking care of your home.

Seasonal associate Kathy Mero, said all patio furniture, lawn decorations and battery powered equipment should be stored in doors to prevent rusting and breakage of the products.

“All outside material should be brought inside to decrease the amount of winter damage,” said Mero. “However, materials such as liquid pesticides and gasoline products should be stored in a garage and not inside of the house.”

The Poison Help website recommends that every house should have at least one carbon monoxide detector near bedrooms and close to furnaces. Heating systems, vents, and chimneys’ should be checked once a year by a professional. You must always follow the products instructions when installing and repairing appliances that burn fuel and natural gases.

The old Farmer’s Almanac is predicting another cold winter with “above-normal snowfall.”