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Fall Chores and Lakeside Precautions
LET'S FERTILIZE THE WEEDS IN THE LAKE, so they grow really tall and thick next spring and summer! You ask, "Who would do such a crazy thing?" Many residents around the lake do just that when they burn leaves and brush at lakeside or close enough to the lake that the ashes wash into the lake when it rains. Ashes contain nutrients which plants need to grow. Many of the nutrients in the ashes are the same as those you buy in fertilizers. So if you burn at or near the lake, don't be surprised by a bumper weed crop in your swimming area in front of your house. If you have a neighbor who burns in a manner that pollutes the lake, cut this article out, talk to him/her about it or paste it on his door, if he/she is not the talkative type…after all, once they reach the lake, those ashes don't stay right in front of the neighbor's house. Docks and boat hoists left in the water over winter are susceptible to damage by the stresses ice pressure can put on them. Removal in the fall is recommended. The weight and cumbersome nature of many of these may require assistance - strained backs and/or heart attacks are too great a price to pay for asking (or paying) for help. Rafts and buoys and other items put in the lake which mark a spot or area should be removed. In the winter when the ice freezes these into a fixed position, they can present a hazard to skiers and snowmobilers. Working in very cold water can be hazardous (bring on a heart attack), dangerous (fingers cannot hold tools and they can slip causing injury) or cause extreme exertion (body trying to keep warm). If working in cold water late in the season, dress appropriately with waders or a wet suit and wear gloves that will be flexible enough for the chore but will provide some protection against the cold water. If you do get wet, do not stay in wet clothes while you "clean things up" - change first and then clean up. Leaf blowers are incredibly noisy. Do not use these lawn aides before 9:00 A.M. or after 8:00 P.M. If you have a log-burning fireplace, have your chimney inspected and/or swept at a minimum of every two-three years. Replace filters on your furnace. Have the flues checked. Drain water from your lawn sprinkler system (or arrange to have it blown out) and/or from your lake water pump before freezing weather to prevent damage to these devices. Turn off water control valves to any outside water spigots, and leave the spigot in an open position to prevent rupturing of pipes due to the freezing/expanding of water within the pipes. Clean your roof gutters of leaves and other debris before these items freeze in the gutter and become almost impossible to remove without a major thaw.
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