One of the most important parts of winter outdoor preparation is making sure you have the right snow-clearing tools ready to go. A sturdy snow pusher or shovel helps you manage early flurries with ease, while keeping ice melt on hand ensures walkways remain safe during freeze-thaw cycles. Whether you choose regular or pet-safe blends, having it stocked ahead of time makes all the difference. To support your winter home maintenance, keep a snow brush and de-icer spray in your vehicle so frosty mornings go a little smoother.

To stay fully organized, consider using sturdy storage tubs or buckets so your winter essentials stay together and easily accessible.

Suburban Recommends: Keep your winter tools organized and easy to reach by creating a designated space near the garage door. Stock up on essentials like snow shovels, ice melt, and salt spreaders. Use durable tubs and plastic buckets to keep everything neatly stored and ready when winter arrives.

Another essential part of preparing your home for winter is securing the outside of your house against freezing temperatures. Start by clearing gutters and checking downspouts to ensure melting snow travels away from your foundation. From there, inspect windows and doors for drafts and seal any gaps to maintain warmth and energy efficiency throughout the season.

Water sources are especially important in winterizing your home. Disconnect, drain, and store all outdoor hoses, then shut off and drain faucets before covering them with insulated protectors. If you have hoses past their prime, don’t forget that Suburban buys ugly hoses—we’re happy to help you retire the ones that have seen better days.

Suburban Recommends: Before temperatures dip below freezing, disconnect, drain, and store all outdoor hoses. If you need a replacement, browse our selection of garden hoses, and remember—we’re happy to take your old or damaged hoses through our We Buy Ugly Hoses program.

Helpful Tip: After disconnecting your hoses, leave the outdoor faucet in the open position throughout winter. This prevents pressure buildup and reduces the risk of frozen pipes.

To fully prepare your outdoor spaces for winter, make sure your décor, furniture, and features are protected from harsh conditions. Fountains, delicate planters, and fragile décor should be drained and moved indoors whenever possible. Outdoor furniture can be safely left outside when covered with durable, weather-ready covers that handle snow and wind.

If you’re using tarps for winter outdoor protection, secure them properly so they stay anchored during strong winds. Terra-cotta and ceramic planters should always be moved indoors since freezing temperatures can cause cracking.

Suburban Recommends: Protect your décor and furniture by using secure, weather-ready covers such as fountain and furniture covers or durable tarps. Keeping fragile items inside and covering what stays outdoors ensures everything remains in good condition throughout the season.

A healthy landscape starts with proper winter garden preparation. Adding mulch around shrubs helps insulate roots and maintain moisture levels during cold spells. Young and thin-barked trees benefit from being wrapped to protect them from sunscald and frost cracking—two common winter stresses.

Evergreens especially appreciate extra support when you’re working to prepare your yard for winter. Products like Wilt-Pruf help reduce moisture loss caused by dry winter winds and fluctuating temperatures.

Before the snow arrives, make a final yard sweep to remove branches, toys, and tools that might get buried under snow and become potential hazards later.

Suburban Recommends: Support your landscape with cold-weather essentials like mulch, tree wrap and bark protection, and Wilt-Pruf to help plants stay strong through winter.

As you continue your winter home prep, make sure safety items are ready and accessible. Flashlights with fresh batteries, winter-rated extension cords, and extra fuel for snow blowers all support a smoother season. If you use a generator, check that it’s operating safely and positioned correctly for winter use.

A helpful tip: Store all winter safety essentials in a clearly labeled bin so everyone in your household knows exactly where to find them during storms. Durable options like our tubs and plastic buckets help keep everything organized and protected throughout winter.

Winter can be challenging for backyard birds, especially when snow and freezing temperatures limit natural food sources. Keeping feeders full with fresh seed, suet, or high-fat blends helps them stay warm and active during the coldest months. It’s a simple way to support wildlife while enjoying the beauty of winter birds right outside your window.

Suburban Recommends: Make sure your feeders stay full with quality bird food. It keeps your feathered friends healthy and brings life and color to your winter landscape.