In Montreal, the first real snowfall usually comes in November or December, and from then on whatever is left in the yard stays buried until spring. An old hot tub, a leaning shed or a pile of branches is much easier to deal with on a dry fall day than in the snow or the spring mud. Here’s a simple checklist to work through before winter.
1. Clear the yard waste
Leaves, branches, old planters and overgrown brush pile up fast in the fall. Most municipalities run fall collections for leaves and yard waste, but the dates and rules vary by city and borough, and they usually end before winter. If you have more than the curb pickup will take, such as large branches, stumps of brush or soil and planter boxes, it can all go in one load.
- Check your city’s fall collection calendar before the last pickup date
- Bag leaves and bundle branches so they’re easy to carry
- Throw out broken planters and patio furniture that won’t survive another winter
2. Decide on the old hot tub or pool
If the hot tub hasn’t been used in years, or the above-ground pool liner is torn, fall is the right time to let it go. Once the water freezes and the snow piles up, the job gets harder, and a pool wall left standing all winter can be damaged by the snow load. Taking it out now also gives the grass a head start in spring.
- Have the hot tub’s power disconnected by a licensed electrician before pickup
- Drain what you can while it’s still above freezing
- Tell us about gates, slopes and decks when you send your photos
3. Check the shed and the deck
Snow is heavy. A shed with a rotten floor or a sagging roof, or a deck with soft boards, may not make it through another winter, and it’s safer to take it apart on your schedule than after it collapses. Empty the shed first, or tell us what’s inside so the contents can go in the same trip.
4. Make room in the garage
If the car spent the summer in the driveway because the garage filled up, now is the time to win it back. In Quebec, winter tires are mandatory from December 1, so tire season is also a good moment to get rid of the worn set you’ve been keeping, along with old bikes, broken tools and boxes that never got unpacked.
- Sort what you keep, donate and throw out before pickup day
- Set aside old paint, gas cans and chemicals: they need special handling
- Old tires can go in the same load as the rest of the garage junk
5. Don’t forget the basement
With the holidays coming, the basement often becomes the guest room, the storage room and the play room all at once. Clearing out old furniture, mattresses and boxes now means one less thing to worry about in December.
One visit for the whole list
You don’t need to book a separate pickup for each item. Our crew can clear the yard, take apart the shed, remove the hot tub and empty the garage in a single visit, then sweep up before leaving. Text a photo of everything to 514-907-3363 for a free written estimate. We’re open 24/7.