Quick answer
To winterize your backyard, close and cover your pool before the first hard freeze, drain and store water features and hoses, protect patio furniture and hardscaping from freeze-thaw damage, and cover any boats or large equipment left outside. In Northeast Ohio, the goal is simple: keep water out of anything that can freeze, crack, or fade over a long winter. If you’d rather not do it yourself, M&G Pools offers professional pool opening and closing services across the Twinsburg area.
Why Winterizing Matters in Ohio
Northeast Ohio winters are hard on outdoor investments — not just because they get cold, but because they swing. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles are what actually cause the damage: water seeps into small gaps, freezes, expands, and cracks whatever it’s sitting in. Left unprotected, a single winter can crack pool plumbing, split concrete, warp patio furniture, and fade anything with a fabric or finish.
The upside is that winterizing isn’t complicated once you understand the principle behind it: get water out of anything that can freeze, and shield surfaces from moisture, ice, and UV until spring. The rest of this guide walks through each part of the backyard in order of priority.
How Do You Winterize a Swimming Pool?
Your pool is usually the most expensive thing in the backyard and the most vulnerable to freeze damage, so it comes first. Closing a pool properly means more than throwing a cover over it. A complete closing includes:
- Lowering the water level below the skimmer and returns
- Adding winterizing chemicals to prevent algae and staining
- Blowing out and plugging the plumbing lines so no water is left to freeze
- Draining and storing the pump, filter, and heater components
- Removing deck fittings and installing the cover
That last point about the plumbing is where most DIY closings go wrong — water trapped in a return line can freeze and crack fittings you won’t discover until spring startup. If your equipment is already showing its age, fall is a smart time to handle pool equipment repair and replacement before you shut everything down, and to check that your pool pump and pool heater are properly drained.
Prefer to hand this off? M&G Pools’ opening and closing service covers the full closing process — chemicals, lines, equipment, and cover — so nothing is left to chance.
Do You Need a Safety Cover for the Pool?
Yes — and not just any cover. A tarp-style winter cover keeps leaves out, but it doesn’t stop a child or pet from falling through. A properly anchored safety cover does both: it protects your water and equipment through the season and supports weight, which matters through an Ohio winter of snow load and curious wildlife.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, layered protection — including barriers and covers — is central to reducing pool-related drowning risk, and a certified safety cover is a key part of that layer during the off-season. If your current cover is sagging, torn, or more than a few years old, a fitted replacement pays for itself in avoided cleanup and repairs. See our pool safety cover options for details on fit and installation.
How Do You Protect Patios, Decks, and Hardscaping?
Concrete, pavers, and natural stone all absorb water — and water that freezes inside them is what causes flaking, cracking, and heaving. Before the first freeze:
Seal porous surfaces
A fresh coat of masonry or paver sealer in the fall closes off the tiny pores where water collects. If you can only do one thing for your patio, do this.
Clear and drain
Sweep off leaves and organic debris (which trap moisture and stain), disconnect and drain hoses, and shut off exterior water lines so spigots don’t freeze and burst.
Skip the rock salt
Standard rock salt (sodium chloride) accelerates spalling on concrete and can etch stone. Use a concrete-safe de-icer or plain sand for traction instead.
What Should You Do With Outdoor Furniture and Equipment?
Anything with fabric, cushions, or a finish should come inside or under cover. Move cushions and textiles to dry storage, and either bring furniture into a garage or shed or cover it with breathable, tie-down covers — sealed plastic traps condensation and causes mildew. Grills, pumps, and small outdoor electronics last far longer when they’re not sitting in freeze-thaw and road salt for four months.
Protecting Other Outdoor Investments
The same “keep water and UV off it” principle applies to everything else you’ve invested in outside — and the item people most often forget is the boat.
If you own a boat as well as a pool, don’t overlook it when winter hits. A tailor-fit cover from Perfect Fit Boat Covers keeps moisture, UV, and debris off your vessel all season — the same protection philosophy you’d apply to a safety cover on the pool. Trapped moisture is the enemy in both cases, so a cover that fits tightly and sheds water beats a loose tarp every time.
Round out the list with irrigation systems (blow out the lines), water features and fountains (drain and cover), and any automated pool controls. If your pool runs on a smart system, confirm your pool automation and chlorine generator are set to their winter modes before you close up.
When Should You Start Winterizing in Northeast Ohio?
Aim to have the pool closed and the backyard buttoned up before the first hard freeze — typically mid-to-late October into early November in the Twinsburg area, though it varies year to year. Closing too early while the water is still warm invites algae; waiting too long risks a surprise freeze cracking your plumbing. The sweet spot is when water temperatures are consistently below about 60°F but before overnight lows dip below freezing. Scheduling your seasonal maintenance in advance is the easiest way to hit that window.
Not sure where to start — or short on time?
M&G Pools has more than 50 years of combined experience closing pools across Twinsburg and Greater Cleveland. Get a free estimate on a full winterizing service.
Winterizing your backyard in one glance
Pool: Lower water, add winter chemicals, blow out and plug lines, drain equipment, install a safety cover.
Patio & hardscaping: Seal porous surfaces, clear debris, drain hoses, skip the rock salt.
Furniture & equipment: Store fabrics inside; use breathable covers, never sealed plastic.
Other investments: Cover the boat, blow out irrigation, drain water features, set automation to winter mode.
Timing: Close before the first hard freeze — usually late October to early November in Northeast Ohio.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I leave my pool open all winter in Ohio?
It’s not recommended. A pool left open through an Ohio winter risks frozen, cracked plumbing and equipment, plus a difficult spring cleanup. Closing it properly protects the investment and makes reopening far easier.
How much water do I drain when closing a pool?
Typically the level is lowered below the skimmer and return lines so no water is left in the plumbing to freeze. The exact level depends on your cover type and pool design — a professional closing accounts for this automatically.
Is a safety cover better than a winter tarp?
Yes. A safety cover keeps out debris and water like a tarp does, but it’s also anchored to support weight, adding a barrier against accidental falls by children, pets, or wildlife during the off-season.
Do I need to winterize a saltwater pool differently?
The core steps are the same, but you’ll also want to power down and, in most cases, remove the salt cell for indoor storage. Confirm the correct winter procedure for your specific chlorine generator before closing.
About M&G Pools
M&G Pools, LLC is a locally owned pool company based at 2206 E Aurora Rd, Twinsburg, OH, with more than 50 years of combined experience in pool openings and closings, equipment repair, liners, automation, and seasonal maintenance across Greater Cleveland. Learn more about our team or call (330) 946-4999.