Winter Property Prep Checklist for Northern Colorado

November Is the Last Month to Act

By December, most Northern Colorado properties are under snow and on survival mode. Everything you meant to do before winter but didn't gets left until spring — often at greater cost and with more damage than if it had been addressed in fall.

November is the last productive month for outdoor work before the growing season ends. Use it.

November Pre-Winter Checklist

Irrigation and Water

• ✓ Irrigation winterization complete and documented
• ✓ Backflow preventer insulated with foam wrap
• ✓ All exterior hose bibs shut off and drained
• ✓ Hoses disconnected, drained, and stored

Lawn and Landscape

• ✓ Final mow complete (2.5–3 inches)
• ✓ Winterizer fertilizer applied
• ✓ Leaves removed from lawn areas
• ✓ Mulch refreshed in beds (3–4 inches)
• ✓ Spring bulbs planted

Hardscape and Structure

• ✓ Concrete driveway and walks sealed if due
• ✓ Cracks in concrete addressed before freeze cycles widen them
• ✓ Fence posts checked and any movement corrected
• ✓ Outdoor furniture stored or covered

Trees and Shrubs

• ✓ Young trees wrapped or protected from frost cracks (bark splitting in winter is common in Colorado — wrap trunks with tree wrap from November to March)
• ✓ Anti-desiccant on broadleaf evergreens
• ✓ Hazardous branches identified and removed

What to Watch for Through Winter

Ice dams — snow on roofs melts at the eave and refreezes, creating ice dams that back water under shingles. Monitor after heavy snowfall. Roof rakes for low-slope sections of the roof.

Foundation ice and snowmelt — ensure downspout extensions are clear and directing water away from the foundation. Ice at foundation level is a sign of drainage problems to address in spring.

Tree branch loads — heavy wet spring snowstorms (April–May) can break limbs. Check trees after significant snowfall.

Frost heave on walks and drives — note any sections that heave through winter. These need correction in spring before they become trip hazards.

Pro Tip: Colorado's winter chinook winds are the most damaging wind events for landscapes. Temperatures can rise 40–60°F in a few hours, activating plants that then get hit by the following cold. Nothing to do about chinooks — just note which plants suffer and make replacement or hardier-variety decisions for spring.

Updated on: 29/04/2026