Preparing your home and garden ahead of the seasons first deep freeze

BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — The Treasure Valley has dipped into the mid 30s, so far this fall.

And for us in the Inland Northwest, winter comes as no surprise.

But as these leaves start to fall, so will the temperatures, leaving sprinkler pipes vulnerable.

Winterizing your sprinkler system should be first priority on your to-do list.

And that begins with shutting off the water that supplies your sprinkler system and making sure the pipes are dry.

This is most often done professionally, using an air compressor to blow water from the systems pipes.

A service that can prevent broken pipes and potential costly repairs.

But if you're not able to get your sprinklers blown out before the cold sets in, experts say the best thing to do is cover any exposed outdoor piping with an old coat or blanket and a plastic bag.

Sprinkler winterization is just one of several tasks to bring in the new cold season.

We also stopped by North End Organic Nursery, to talk to owner Lyndsay Schramm, who says if you're a gardener, the time to tend is now.

"The immediate need people need to think about right now are plants that aren't going to make it through this first frost," Lyndsay Schramm, Owner of North End Organic Nursery. "There is a lot of projects you can do throughout the fall months but now we have this impending if you don't bring it inside or harvest, its going to be gone by Sunday."

That means tomatoes, even the green ones, will ripen in time.

She says that anything that is a fruiting body, like cucumbers, and melons need to be picked.

But you may not have to pick all the greens from your garden just yet.

"With the exception of chard, kale, arugula, and spinach, lettuce," Schramm explains. "They love the cold and these really cold nights will make them sweeter as they set sugar into their leaves."

Schramm tells me that she even has an entire Youtube Channel dedicated to local gardening, you can find that series below:

If flowers and trees are more your aesthetic, she says now is the time to tidy perennials, plant bulbs and top-dress with compost.

"Spring is not the best time to be adding amendments to your garden or to your lawn or landscape," Schramm explains. "If you can put a top dressing of compost on your lawn, I tell people that is the number one thing you can do for health and water saving for next year."

And inside your home, the first frost is a good time to check your smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector.

Changing batteries twice a year will ensure you and your family are safe and secure.

You can find a full list for how to winterize your home HERE.

It's simple steps like these that can go a long way to making sure your family is safe and ready when temperatures start to fall.

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