Fall is the best time to both fertilize your lawn and to get it ready for the harsh winter months. Instead of buying chemical or store-bought organic fertilizers, you can use what your lawn and trees already provide. Start by leaving the grass clippings on the lawn when it’s your final mow of the season; this will provide much-needed nitrogen. Use a shredder or your lawnmower to mulch fallen leaves, creating smaller pieces that you can leave on your lawn. This layer of mulched leaves will both feed your lawn and insulate it during the winter months.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

One of the best investments you can make for both your home and health is to hire an HVAC technician during the fall to inspect your furnace or heat pump. The visit costs about $100, and they’ll make sure your system is working efficiently and is clean. They will also check to make sure there is no carbon monoxide leaking into your home. This autumn visit will pinpoint any potential problems that need fixing, and repairs now are better than breakdowns during brutally cold winter months, when getting your system fixed can mean a wait of several days.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION

A classic tip to winterize your home is to use caulk to seal up windows and prevent cold air from seeping in. But for some people, using a caulk gun can be both messy and complicated, and it can create windows that are eyesores when you’re finished. For the less DIY-inclined, try Mortite caulking cord. It comes wrapped up like small rope, and you just unroll, press with your fingers and -- voila! -- cracks, gaps and holes are sealed up. It comes in a variety of colors to match the color of your windows, too. The best part: It never hardens, so if you ever want to remove it, you just peel it off.

ANDREWS MCMEEL SYNDICATION