Get ready for winter

Julie Neighbourly Lead from Havelock North

Even though we are coming into summer now (?), it’s time to get ready for winter.

Seem like a bit of a weird idea? It’s not. If you wait till winter to get ready for winter you won’t be ready when it arrives and you’ll spend a fortune trying to get through.

Huh?

Simple: drains and guttering; yards and gardens; heating.

All of these are cheaper and easier to sort in the warm seasons.
Did you know getting your gutters and drains cleared in the winter months costs more? Why? Because it’s harder. And more dangerous. It’s also more likely to result water incursion in the home. Which can be excruciatingly expensive to rectify, as many can tell you. You’re also more likely to get rats, if you have blocked or damaged drains. If they get under your floors and die, the smell is horrendous, especially in the hot weather.

It’s also easier to deal with overgrown gardens and weedy lawns in summer, than winter. They won’t stop growing in winter, but if you can get into weed control when it’s hot, they’re less likely to be a big problem when it’s not. And cutting back over growth allows for more natural light in the garden and better ground control and production. Just don’t go so hard you have no shade. Same with your lawns. Cut them long to reduce weed incursion and to protect the roots. Short lawns get burnt roots and weeds break through easier. You will spend less on sorting problems if you deal with them before you have no choice.

Fireplaces. Clean and service them. Check the baffles, seals and glass. And get your firewood now.
Did you know it’s up to $200 cheaper in summer. And you have more time to store and dry it for winter.

If you get a mixture of soft and hard woods, I’d highly recommend getting your soft wood from Tumu in Maraekakaho Rd, Hastings. 2 cord delivered (within 25km, further may incur a charge) is currently $385. ($310 with a gold card) and you can pay it off in advance, or pay online, or pay the driver. He carries eftpos. www.tumutimbers.co.nz...
If you aren’t in Hawkes Bay, check with your local timber merchants and pallet makers.

It’s all untreated pine offcuts. And will burn well in winter. Burns even better mixed with hard wood. It’s also cheaper than anywhere else, unless you get it free or at mates rates.

I ordered mine Tuesday afternoon and had it delivered Wednesday morning.

If you collect driftwood, leave it where it can get rained on for at least a year, before you burn it. Check with your local council about the rules around collecting fallen branches from public land and talk to your local council arborists about the wood they cut. It’s usually free. It’s a great way to stock up for the following winters.