Secure Your Garden From A Storm Fast With These Easy, 5-Minute Jobs That Make A Big Difference

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Homes & Gardens has published a guide to fast garden preparations for storms, focusing on loose objects, containers, garden buildings and vulnerable plants. The advice is practical risk reduction, not a guarantee against damage; the report gives no storm-specific forecast or safety guarantee.

Homes & Gardens has published a checklist of quick jobs to help reduce hazards in gardens before strong winds and heavy rain, including bringing in loose items, securing containers and checking sheds and greenhouses. The guidance matters because unsecured objects can be blown around, while vulnerable plants and garden structures may be damaged; it does not establish that any single step can prevent storm damage.

The report recommends starting with a scan of the garden for anything that could be blown, tipped over or broken. Small pots and lightweight containers can be moved indoors, into a shed, garage, greenhouse or porch. Larger pots can be grouped beside a wall, while hanging baskets should be taken down and placed on the ground. The article singles out lightweight plastic pots and tall planters as especially vulnerable to strong winds.

Loose objects such as cushions, rugs, ornaments, tools, parasols and children’s toys should be stored inside a building or a suitable garden storage box. The report says heavier furniture should be put away where possible or firmly secured to a fixed point. Outdoor lights should also be taken down if they could be blown loose and broken.

For buildings, the article advises closing and securing greenhouse doors and windows, checking panes and replacing loose clips or using heavy-duty tape where appropriate. Shed doors should be locked or held shut, windows closed and loose roofing felt secured. For tall plants in beds, it recommends stakes and soft, flexible ties, with ties spaced about 8 to 12 inches apart up the stem. The article also advises inspecting trees for broken branches before storm season, particularly where they overhang homes, paths or driveways.

Reducing Hazards Before High Winds

The steps focus on reducing the chance that garden objects become windblown hazards or that movable pots and hanging baskets topple. Bringing items in and checking building openings can also help limit avoidable damage to property and plants. These measures are most useful when there is time to act before conditions worsen, but they cannot make a garden storm-proof.

The guidance also distinguishes between items that can be moved and plants rooted in beds. For the latter, staking may help support stems, but the article does not promise that supports will hold in every storm. Readers should treat the checklist as ordinary preparation, not a substitute for official weather alerts or instructions from local authorities.

The Checklist’s Four Main Tasks

The Homes & Gardens report is framed for situations when there is limited warning before severe weather. Its recommendations fall into four practical groups: move or group pots, put away or secure loose objects, close and check garden buildings, and support tall plants. The advice is based on the risk that wind can shift unsecured items or put pressure on doors, panes and plant stems.

The article also points to longer-term preparation, particularly checking trees for damaged branches before winter. That inspection is distinct from the quick pre-storm jobs: the report does not provide a tree-risk assessment method or specify when a homeowner should hire a professional. It advises paying attention to branches over buildings, gardens, driveways and walkways.

““The best way to prepare your yard for a storm is securing anything loose that can blow around, keeping buildings safe, and protecting any vulnerable plants.””

— Homes & Gardens report

Storm Risks the Checklist Cannot Resolve

The report does not identify a particular storm, location, forecast, publication date or expected wind speed. It also does not quantify how much damage the listed steps may prevent. The headline refers to five-minute jobs, but the article provides no timed test showing that every task can be completed within five minutes; the time needed will depend on the garden and available storage.

It is also unclear whether particular buildings, furniture or trees can be made safe with the suggested measures in every case. Heavy or damaged structures and large branches may require professional attention. The guidance does not replace local emergency advice, and conditions can change quickly.

Act on Local Weather Alerts

For readers preparing for a storm, the immediate next step in the report is to inspect the garden and secure movable items before winds and rain arrive. People should follow official local forecasts and emergency instructions for timing and any evacuation or safety guidance. After the weather passes, check the garden for fallen branches, damaged structures or loose debris before using it, and seek qualified help for hazards that cannot be safely handled.

Key Questions

What should be moved first before a storm?

Homes & Gardens recommends bringing in small pots, cushions, rugs, toys, tools, ornaments and parasols, along with other loose objects that could be blown around. Store them in a shed, garage, home or suitable storage box.

How should larger pots and hanging baskets be secured?

The report suggests grouping larger pots against a wall to shelter them from wind and reduce the risk of tipping. Take hanging baskets down and place them on the ground. If a container is too heavy to move safely, avoid risking injury and use local safety guidance.

How can tall garden plants be supported?

Stake vulnerable tall plants with bamboo canes, wooden stakes or metal poles. The article advises using soft, flexible ties and placing them about 8 to 12 inches apart up the stem, allowing some movement.

Does this checklist guarantee the garden will avoid storm damage?

No. The report presents the measures as ways to reduce risk, not as a guarantee. The result depends on the storm, the garden and the condition of its buildings and plants; follow official weather and emergency advice.

Source: rss