How to Prepare Your Property for Cody’s Windy Season

Spring and fall in Cody, Wyoming are known for one thing above all else: wind. Whether it’s a gentle breeze or a 60-mph gust sweeping across the Big Horn Basin, high winds can take a toll on your home’s exterior, landscaping, and safety.

Getting ahead of the season with a few smart strategies can prevent damage, lower maintenance costs, and make your property more resilient. Here’s how to prepare your home and yard for the windy months ahead.

Secure Outdoor Furniture and Fixtures

Patio furniture, grills, umbrellas, and even garbage cans can become projectiles when strong gusts hit. Anything not bolted down is at risk of being blown across your yard—or into your neighbor’s window.

Use tie-downs, anchor kits, or store lightweight items in a garage or shed. Cover grills and fire pits to keep them clean and protected from flying debris.

Trim Overhanging or Weak Tree Branches

Trees are beautiful, but in a windy environment like Cody, they can quickly become hazards. Inspect trees for dead or overhanging limbs, especially near your house, garage, power lines, or fences.

Trimming early in the season reduces the chance of breakage and keeps falling branches from damaging your roof, windows, or vehicles.

Inspect Your Roof and Gutters

High winds expose weak points in roofing. Loose shingles, unsecured flashing, and damaged gutters are often the first things to go in a storm. If gutters are already clogged or hanging unevenly, they’re more likely to rip off entirely.

We recommend a pre-season inspection and cleaning. Freedom Exterior Services can repair or secure your gutters and clear out debris to prevent wind-related failure.

Reinforce Window Screens and Storm Windows

Window screens get battered during windy months. If they’re old, brittle, or poorly fitted, they may tear or fly off completely. Double-check frames and screen tension, and repair or replace as needed.

If you use storm windows or panels, inspect seals and fasteners now so they’re ready to handle gusts and airborne dust when it hits.

Clean and Stabilize Fencing

Fences take the brunt of the wind in many open lots around Cody. A leaning or weakened post can bring down an entire section. Walk your perimeter and push on each post—if anything moves, it should be reinforced or reset.

Also make sure gates latch properly and won’t swing open and slam shut in the wind. If hinges or fasteners are loose, replace or tighten them before the season changes.

Clear Yard Debris and Loose Items

Old branches, plastic pots, kids’ toys, and loose yard decor all become wind-driven missiles if left out. Do a full yard sweep to collect or secure these items.

This is also a great time to rake leaves or pine needles from corners of your house and clean up any lingering winter debris before the wind blows it into your neighbor’s yard—or clogs your gutters again.

Apply Fresh Mulch or Rock to Beds

In windy climates, bare soil erodes quickly and flower beds dry out faster. Adding a fresh layer of mulch or decorative gravel can help retain moisture, anchor topsoil, and prevent messes from wind scatter.

Bonus: it makes your yard look sharp going into the season.

Why It Matters

In Cody, windy season isn’t a maybe—it’s a guarantee. Taking a proactive approach saves time, money, and headaches down the road. Instead of dealing with broken gutters or wind-strewn garbage, you can enjoy the changing season worry-free.

Freedom Exterior Services offers pre-season cleanups, gutter inspections, window screen replacements, and fence checks to help you get ahead of the weather.

Schedule a windy-season prep service today and protect your property before the first big gust rolls in.