Shop All

Store Locator

Lawn & Garden Outdoor Power Equipment Home Maintenance Fire & Home Safety

Everything You Need to Get Ready for Fall

Crisp air, golden leaves and cozy evenings - fall is here. Time to wrap up, button down and get your home ready for the next season.

Make the Most of Autumn in Ontario

Before the First Frost

You have a solid September window to enjoy the yard and gradually close it out. Focus on seeding the lawn and wrapping up exterior projects before colder temperatures arrive.

35 Days

Ontario averages 17 workable outdoor days in September and 11 in October, but the window narrows fast after that.

After the First Frost

Once mid-October hits, shift focus indoors. It's the right time to service your heating system, upgrade insulation and get your home comfortable for the months ahead.

Fall Outdoor Workable Days

Stoves, Heaters & Fireplaces

A wood stove, pellet stove or electric fireplace keeps your home warm and your energy bills in check. Shop Now

Fire Tables & Outdoor Heaters

Extend your patio season into crisp fall evenings with a propane fire table or patio heater. Shop Now

Insulation & Draft Proofing

Shore up your attic, crawlspace and door frames before the cold sets in for good. Shop Now

* Note: Workable-day figures above are directional estimates modeled from published frost-date and climate-normal data for each region's largest city.

Lawn & Garden

Shop All

Fall is your last real window to feed the lawn, clear leaves and put the garden to bed before winter arrives.

Shop All

Harvest & Preserve

End of Season Care

Lawn & Garden Cleanup

Harvest, Preserve and Store Before the Cold Arrives

The growing season doesn't end at the garden; it ends at the table. Make the most of everything you've grown this year with the right tools for harvesting, preserving and storing your bounty before temperatures drop.

Harvest root vegetables after the first light frost for peak sweetness. Carrots, parsnips and beets all benefit from a cold snap.
Use proper canning and preserving equipment to extend your produce well into winter. Label everything with the date so nothing goes to waste.
Store cured produce like squash and potatoes in a cool, dark, well-ventilated space to maximize shelf life through the colder months.

EXPLORE MORE

Shop Harvest & Preserve

Put the Garden to Bed the Right Way

A little end-of-season effort in the garden goes a long way toward a healthier, more productive spring. Protect your investment with the right tools for pruning, covering and storing.

Cut back perennials after the first hard frost. You can leave ornamental grasses and seed heads standing to provide winter habitat and visual interest.
Apply a layer of mulch around tender perennials and garden beds to insulate roots against freeze-thaw cycles.
Clean, dry and store your garden tools properly before winter. A light coat of oil on metal blades prevents rust and extends the life of your equipment.

EXPLORE MORE

Shop End of Season Care

Shop Garden & Lawn Cleanup

Mark Your Calendar

September 22

First Day of Fall

Focus on outdoor projects and weatherproofing while the warmth lasts

October 12

Thanksgiving

Cook up your favourite dishes and gather family and friends

October 31

Halloween

Deck out your front yard and welcome the neighbourhood

November 1

End of Daylight Savings

A good cue to test your smoke and CO detectors and replace batteries

Outdoor Power Equipment

Shop All

Get mowers and trimmers put away, and pull the leaf blower and snow blower out of storage for what's ahead.

Shop All

Lawn & Garden Equipment

Chainsaws & Cutting

End of Season Equipment Care

Shop Outdoor Power Equipment

Clear Deadfall & Get That Firewood Stacked

Fall is the time to tackle tree trimming, clear deadfall and get your firewood supply sorted before the cold sets in. Winter rewards those who prepare early.

Process firewood in early fall to allow adequate drying time. Freshly cut wood needs at least six months to season properly before burning.
A hedge trimmer makes quick work of fall shrub shaping. Cutting back before winter reduces wind damage and encourages strong spring growth.
Always clear fallen branches and deadwood before the first snowfall. What's manageable in October becomes a much bigger job in February.

EXPLORE MORE

Shop Chainsaws & Cutting

Winterize Now, Thank Yourself in Spring

The way you store your outdoor power equipment in fall determines how reliably it starts in spring. A proper end-of-season routine protects your investment and avoids costly repairs.

Drain or stabilize fuel in gas-powered equipment before storage. Stale fuel is the number one cause of sputtering engines in spring.
Change or drain the oil in your lawn mower before storing. Old oil contains combustion byproducts that can corrode engine components over winter.
Clean and lightly lubricate all cutting blades before storage. Sharp, rust-free blades will be ready to work when you need them next season.

EXPLORE MORE

Shop Equipment Care

Home Maintenance

Shop All

Fall is prime time for gutter cleaning, furnace checks and general home upkeep before winter arrives.

Shop All

Exterior Weather Prep

Interior Weather Prep

Heating & Air Quality

Seal It Before the Cold Does the Damage

Water, wind and freeze-thaw cycles are hard on Canadian homes. Fall is the time to inspect, seal and protect every exterior surface before winter finds the weak spots for you.

Inspect and re-caulk around windows, doors and any exterior penetrations. Even small gaps let in significant cold air and moisture over a long winter.
Clean gutters and downspouts thoroughly in late October after leaves have fallen. Blocked gutters are a leading cause of ice dams and roof damage.
Check and replace weatherstripping on all exterior doors. A properly sealed door makes a noticeable difference in both comfort and heating costs.

EXPLORE MORE

Shop External Weather Prep

A woman is applying caulking to an indoor window

Lock in the Warmth Before Winter Arrives

The best time to address drafts, insulation gaps and pipe vulnerabilities is before temperatures drop. A few hours of interior prep in fall translates into a warmer, more efficient home all winter.

Apply window insulation film to older single-pane or drafty windows. It’s an inexpensive solution that can significantly reduce heat loss in older homes.
Insulate exposed pipes in unheated spaces like garages, crawlspaces and exterior walls before temperatures regularly dip below freezing.
Install door sweeps on any exterior door with a visible gap at the bottom. Cold air infiltration at floor level is one of the most common and easily fixed comfort issues.

EXPLORE MORE

Shop Interior Weather Prep

Simple Steps to Ensure Warmth and Air Quality

Don't wait for the first cold snap to find out your furnace needs a filter or your fireplace needs servicing. Fall is the time to test, tune and stock up on everything that keeps your home warm through winter.

Replace your furnace filter before the heating season begins. A clean filter improves efficiency, extends equipment life and maintains better indoor air quality.
Have your fireplace or wood stove inspected and cleaned annually. Creosote buildup is a fire hazard, and a blocked flue reduces efficiency significantly.
Add a humidifier to your heating system or use a portable unit. Winters bring dry indoor air; managing humidity improves both comfort and air quality.

EXPLORE MORE

Shop Heating & Air Quality

Fire & Home Safety

Shop All

Get the fireplace or chimney inspected and test your smoke and CO detectors before you fire it up for the season.

Shop All

Fire Prevention

Emergency Prep

Severe Weather Prep

Woman on a ladder changing a smoke detector

Your First Line of Defence Starts with a Working Detector

Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors save lives, but only if they're installed correctly in the right locations and have working batteries. Make sure your home is protected from both fire and CO incidents.

Test every smoke and CO detector in your home at the start of the heating season. Replace batteries annually and replace the entire unit every 10 years, or sooner if it fails a test.
Carbon monoxide is odourless and invisible. Every home with a gas furnace, wood stove, fireplace or attached garage needs a CO detector on every level, especially near sleeping areas.
A fire extinguisher in the kitchen and one in the utility room or garage is the minimum for most homes. Check the pressure gauge annually and replace or recharge after any use.

EXPLORE MORE

Shop Fire Prevention

Be Ready Before the Storm

Storms can knock out power for hours or days. A well-stocked emergency kit and a reliable backup power source are valuable preparations for any home outside a major urban centre.

A portable generator provides backup power for essential energy needs during an outage. Size it to run your furnace blower, refrigerator and basic lighting at minimum.
A 72-hour emergency kit should include water, non-perishable food, flashlights, batteries, a first-aid kit and copies of important documents. Review and restock it annually.
Stock up on rock salt or ice melter before the first freeze arrives. Supplies move fast once the season turns, and an icy walkway is a liability you don't want to be caught unprepared for.

EXPLORE MORE

Shop Emergency Preparation

Home flooded with sandbags at front door

Protect Your Property Before the Worst of It Hits

Major storms can cause significant property damage from ice dams and burst pipes to downed trees and power outages. A few hours of preparation dramatically reduces the risk of costly repairs.

Disconnect and drain all outdoor hoses and shut off exterior water supply lines before the first hard freeze. A burst pipe from a frozen hose bib can cause thousands of dollars in damage.
Trim any dead or overhanging branches near your home or vehicle before the season's first ice storm. Ice-loaded branches are the most common cause of damage during winter storms.
Know where your main water shutoff is located before an emergency forces you to find it. A burst pipe demands an immediate response to reduce flooding damage.

EXPLORE MORE

Shop Severe Weather Preparation

Here's How

View All

Article

Care for Your Lawn at the End of Summer teaser

Article

Buying Guide

Article

Everything You Need to Get Your Home Ready for a Canadian Fall, All in One Place

Canadian homeowners know that fall is one of the most important seasons to get right. Whether you're closing out the lawn, stacking firewood, sealing your deck before the frost or setting up your heating system for the months ahead, we have everything you need to get it done. From lawn and garden supplies and outdoor power equipment to building materials and heating and air quality. With nearly 1,000 independently-owned stores across the country, you'll find the products and local expertise to tackle any project, in any climate.

Fall moves fast, and the most prepared homes don't happen by accident. Invest in the right end-of-season equipment care so your tools are ready when spring returns, protect your home's exterior with the right caulks, sealers and insulation before temperatures drop, and keep your family warm and comfortable all season long with the right stoves, heaters and fireplaces. From coast to coast, Home Hardware helps Canadian homeowners plan smarter, prepare better and get the most out of every season.

FAQs

When should I apply fall fertilizer to my lawn in Canada?

Fall fertilizing is one of the most important things you can do for a Canadian lawn. Apply a winterizer fertilizer in late September to mid-October, after the last cut but while the grass is still actively growing. This helps roots store nutrients through winter and supports stronger, faster growth in spring. Timing varies by province, and colder zones should fertilize earlier.

Shop Lawn & Garden

How do I winterize my outdoor power equipment?

Before storing gas-powered equipment for winter, drain or stabilize the fuel to prevent gumming, change the oil, clean or replace the air filter, and disconnect the spark plug. For battery-powered tools, store batteries at partial charge in a dry, temperature-controlled space. Sharpen blades, lubricate moving parts and store everything off the ground to prevent moisture damage.

Shop Outdoor Power Equipment Parts & Accessories

How do I prepare my home's exterior for a Canadian winter?

Start with a full inspection of your caulking and weather stripping around doors, windows, and any exterior penetrations, and replace anything cracked or compressed. Clean your eavestroughs and downspouts before the first freeze, check your roof for damaged shingles, and apply a fresh coat of exterior sealant or stain to any exposed wood surfaces. The fall prep window in most of Canada closes fast, so aim to complete exterior work before temperatures drop consistently below 10°C.

Shop Building Materials

What's the most efficient way to heat my home in fall and winter?

The right answer depends on your home's existing system and layout. A programmable or smart thermostat is one of the highest-return upgrades you can make, reducing heating costs by 10–15% without sacrificing comfort. For supplemental heat in specific rooms, electric panel heaters and wood or pellet stoves are efficient options. Always replace your furnace filter at the start of heating season to maintain airflow and air quality.

Shop Heating, Cooling & Air Quality

How do I store my patio furniture for winter in Canada?

Clean all surfaces thoroughly before storage to prevent mould and staining. Use fitted furniture covers for pieces staying outdoors, or move cushions and fabric items inside to a dry space. For metal and wood furniture, a deck box or shed is ideal for protecting against freeze-thaw cycles. Disassemble and stack chairs where possible to save space and reduce wind exposure.

Shop Deck Boxes & Outdoor Storage

When is the best time to seal or stain a deck in Canada?

Fall is the last viable window for most of Canada. Aim to complete the work before nighttime temperatures drop below 10°C, as most stains and sealers require a minimum application temperature to cure properly. Clean the deck thoroughly first, allow it to dry completely, and apply a penetrating stain or water-repellent sealer to protect against winter moisture and freeze-thaw damage.

Shop Stains & Preservatives

What fall home maintenance projects add the most value?

Insulation upgrades, exterior sealing and heating system improvements consistently deliver strong returns for Canadian homeowners, both in energy savings and resale value. A well-insulated attic can reduce heating costs by 15–25%, while replacing worn weather stripping and caulking is one of the lowest-cost, highest-impact improvements you can make. Curb appeal work such as fresh exterior paint or repaired fencing can make a strong impression in any season.

Shop Building Materials