Changes of Fall: What's Going on in Nature and Home Improvement Tips

Fall is a wonderful time of the year that brings so many changes many people overlook. While many see spring as the "new beginning," autumn plays an important role in making sure that that "new beginning" is as spectacular as it should be.

Along with the cooler winds and changing of the leaves, a quick look around will show you much more going on in nature. The squirrels provide a brief, yet amusing, snapshot into what's going on. As they frantically run around and chase each other, they're also gathering supplies for the winter. Hidden morsels carefully tucked away in secret locations need to be reclaimed from the ground. These guys need some fat and protein to survive this winter when food is scarce and temperatures take their drastic drop.


The wasps and hornets show us yet another glimpse of changes that are occurring. After the queen established her nest and produced her offspring, the end of the line comes for the rest of the colony. Males and workers begin dying off, having lived their short life to serve not only their queen but the promise of new colonies next spring. If you take the time to notice during the cold mornings, you'll not see many wasps and hornets out. They have difficulties flying when the temp is below 50 degrees F. While the warm days bring them out to finish their life's purpose, in a few weeks they will be all but gone.

The queens will find a place to overwinter. Paper wasps unfortunately sometimes congregate inside a home. They're pretty docile, so there's no need to worry. Just scoop them up in a cup and release them outside to find leaf litter or another warm place to overwinter for next spring.

Other animals are also preparing, although the changes may be more subtle. Even the dogs and cats that live with us start changing their bodies to prepare for the cold. Thick coats are beginning to emerge for an extra layer of protection from winter's snow, ice and frigid temperatures. Just seeing this happen is making me dread the warm days of late spring when the massive shedding begins.

It's just around the corner ....

Fall changes also signal a time to take care of the home. While many of the leaves are still on the trees, they will begin dropping suddenly, clogging gutters and covering our lawns. In a week or so when the leaves begin dropping, it will be time to clean out those gutters but NOT rake the leaves.

Cleaning your gutters out of dead leaves and debris can help preserve the life of your roof and other areas of your home.

Raking is not recommended for a healthy lawn. The leaves break down into a rich, compost material that adds vital nutrients into your soil. If you really don't like the look of leaves on your lawn, consider mulching them with your lawn mower so they still break down. At the very least, save the leaves you rake and throw them into a compost bin or pile to use next spring and summer.

Other than the rich nutrients they provide to your soil, fallen leaves offer a winter home to many small creatures that need a shelter for the winter. The wasps and hornets mentioned above often find a small pile to live under and protect them from winter's treachery. Other arthropods and some mammals also find retreats within the fallen leaves.

The cooler temperatures also bring about a change for humans. Fall and winter signal us to start preparing our home for the drastic changes -- something we should be thinking about year round. While replacing windows and doors may not be in everyone's budget, these areas of our homes are where we become most concerned with the cold getting in. Get out the caulk gun and start finding trouble areas. Caulk around your window sills and door frames -- places where the cold breezes slip through and let our precious, expensive heat out.

Install tight-fitting sweeps on your doors -- even garage doors -- to prevent drafts from chilling you to the bone. Put protective shrink wrap around your windows and doors you won't use to prevent drafts.

You may be amazed at how much these inexpensive materials can save you on your heat bills -- and how much more comfortable your home may be.