Boom! You hear the thunder and know that there’s lightning and rain on the way as well. You might be managing the panic of your children or animals, or you might settle in for the show. When the storm arrives, you need to know that your home and garden are ready. Here’s how to prepare for the storm season.

Look for Leaks

The first storm of the season is a good time to take a look for leaks around your home. Leaks can be a sign that your roofing is loose, warped, or rotten. They can also indicate a water flow problem. If water is pooling on your roof or failing to drain into a gutter appropriately, you may see a leak. Leaks often occur at seams as well, such as the area where you’ve installed a skylight. Use your first storm of the season to pinpoint problems, but try to be proactive before storm season hits, taking a good look at your roof while it’s still warm and dry.

Watch for Cascading Water

During the storm, watch for water that’s exceeded the capacity of your gutters. If water is flowing over the sides of the gutter, this could mean that your gutter is clogged. It could also mean that your gutters have moved away from the house and have tipped or warped. Tipped, warped, or clogged gutters need to be cleaned when there’s a break in the storm. You can also consider adding a gutter cover to remove the chance that any debris will clog up your gutters.

Observe the Water Flow in Your Yard

When the storm hits, it can bring a lot of water with it. Once the soil is saturated, that water will flow over the surface of your yard and may also pool in certain areas. During a break in the storm, go out into your garden and look for pooling water. Look for scour marks as well, trenches dug into the ground as water moves quickly across bare ground. Fall is an excellent time to landscape and plant perennials. Use those soggy places in the garden for wetland plants that will use the water and encourage it to soak into the ground. Plant in the bare patches that get scoured by the water so that your soil stops running away.

Watch for Falling Branches

Rain, wind, snow, and ice are good reminders to keep up with the larger aspects of yard maintenance. Your first fall storm can remind you to take a look at that tree in the yard to make sure that it’s in no danger of losing branches or falling down altogether. Fall is a good time to look at the larger structures in your yard and consider how they’ll stand up to the winter storms.

Keeping your gutters clean and flowing clear will prevent water from backing up onto your roof during a storm. It will also stop gutters from overflowing into the landscaping or onto your siding, causing damage. When you’re considering new gutter systems for your home, contact Harry Helmet. We’ll help you keep your home safe from leaks and mold and make your landscape maintenance much easier. Contact us today to learn more about our Gutter Helmet and Helmet Heat products.

Written by Del Thebaud