Continue Mowing
Mow your lawn every week or so until the grass has stopped growing. For lawns under or near deciduous trees losing their leaves in the fall, your mower’s mulching mode—in which discharge chutes are closed off so that the grass and leaves get chopped more finely—also allows leaves to decompose on your lawn without smothering what lies beneath. Leaving clippings behind returns useful nutrients to the soil.
Don't Let the Leaves Pile Up
Leaves block sunlight that your grass needs. Wet leaves mat it down and promote disease. Which is to say, raking once or twice each fall really isn’t enough. If your mower doesn’t have a mulching mode, use a leaf blower or rake to clear the leaves for bagging or composting. Dry leaves are much easier to clear, so try to remove as many as you can when a storm is forecast. On a crisp fall day, you can easily move mountains of leaves with a reliable blower.
Make One Last Deck Check
While you’re putting away your outdoor furniture and your grill, take a careful look at your deck. Make sure the railings and banisters aren’t loose. Push on them; they shouldn’t wiggle. Check that all of the steps are securely anchored to the risers by resting your weight all along their full width. Inspect all nails, screws, and bolts. Hammer down nails, and tighten screws and bolts as needed with a cordless drill. And to protect the wood from moisture, make sure you clear away all leaves from the structure.
Remove Dead Branches
Dead tree limbs can be a menace during a strong storm and pose a risk of damage to your home, car, and property. To be safe, remove the branches well ahead of nasty weather. If your trees are small and the branches are no more than 4 inches in diameter, consider using an electric lopper, which some homeowners find less scary than a chain saw.