What should you check on buildings and the house?
Walk each building with a notebook. Look at roofs, gutters, flashing, doors, windows, siding and foundations, and list needed repairs. Clean gutters and downspouts. Seal gaps that let in wind, rodents and moisture. Make sure doors close and latch well, since winter wind finds every loose latch.
Have chimneys, stoves and furnaces inspected and serviced by qualified professionals, and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Replace batteries on the same date every year.
Take photos of anything that looks worn, so that you can show a contractor or compare to next year.
- Clean gutters and check the roof
- Seal gaps and fix doors and latches
- Service heating equipment and chimneys
- Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
How do you prepare water and plumbing?
Drain and store hoses, protect outdoor faucets and insulate exposed pipes. Know where your main shutoff is. Check tank heaters and waterers for safe wiring, and test them before cold arrives. If you have a well, ask your pump contractor whether anything needs service before winter.
Plan for animal water that will not freeze, and have a backup plan if power fails.
Flush and drain stock tanks and store hoses where they will not crack. A cheap repair now beats a burst line in January.
What should you do for animals and pasture?
Check body condition and deal with parasites, hoof care and vaccinations as your veterinarian advises. Make sure shelters are dry, wind-protected and ventilated. Stockpile hay and test it if you can, and plan feed for a long winter. Give pastures a rest, and think about overseeding or resting fields on the advice of your extension office.
Repair fences while you can see them and while ground is workable, because snow will hide trouble.
Consider a quick walk with your vet to review winter needs, and ask whether any health items need to be done before cold weather arrives. Fall is also a good time to soil-test pastures and fields, and your extension office can explain how.
What about equipment, fuel and tools?
Service tractors and vehicles, change fluids as the manufacturer recommends, test batteries and check tires. Drain or stabilize fuel in small engines you will not use. Store equipment under cover, and make sure snow gear is ready. Keep a stock of spare parts, chains, ropes, shovels and flashlights.
Store fuel safely in approved containers away from buildings, according to local fire rules.
Label and organize tools and supplies so you can find them quickly in poor weather or poor light.
How do you finish the garden and orchard?
Remove spent plants that carry disease, add compost or cover crops to protect soil, and mulch tender perennials after the ground cools. Clean and sharpen tools before storing them. Harvest and preserve food using tested methods, such as those from the National Center for Home Food Preservation.
Save notes on what grew well and what did not while the season is fresh.
Move any tender potted plants and citrus or herbs you want to keep to a sheltered spot before the first hard frost.
- Remove diseased plant material
- Plant cover crops or add mulch
- Clean and store tools
- Preserve harvest using tested methods
What should you do about supplies and emergency plans?
Stock food, water, medications, batteries and fuel for several days without power, and update your emergency plan with phone numbers and contacts. Check your first aid supplies and replace what has expired. Make sure everyone in the household knows what to do in an outage, including children and hired help.
Review insurance coverage, and gather important papers in one place. Do not assume your policy covers everything. Ask your agent.
Check expiration dates on emergency supplies, and rotate food and water stored from earlier years. Tell a neighbor or family member who lives nearby about your plan so someone knows to check on you in a long outage.
How do you pace the work?
Make the list, rank jobs by urgency and set a rough weekend schedule. Start with safety items and things that protect animals, then move to comfort and convenience. Ask neighbors to trade help on big jobs, such as roof repair or moving bales.
Then rest. A farm that goes into winter with a tired, injured owner is not ready.
Write the list on one page and cross things off as you go. Seeing progress is motivating and keeps small jobs from getting lost.
Key takeaways
- Fall is the time to fix buildings, heat, water and fences before winter tests them.
- Service heating equipment and test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms.
- Stock hay, fuel and emergency supplies for several days without power.
- Rank the jobs, start with safety and animals, and pace yourself.
Sources and further reading
Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Rural Farm Life Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.