It may be very hard for you to tell but we are days away – at least according to the calendar – to the first day of fall.

Weather-wise, there’s virtually no difference between Sept. 21 and Sept. 22. However, the date on the calendar marks as good a time as any for your annual home fall maintenance.

So, here’s your annual guide for those things you need to do around your home to prepare for the seasonal change.

We start with a don’t. Do not stop watering your lawns. While you may start to see some leaves falling and grass growing a little slower, watering in the fall helps your lawn recover from summer stress. It also helps to protect it through the winter with the occasional freezes.

You should also aerate your lawns by putting some holes in the ground around your home. You do that by removing plugs of soil. It is vital for a healthy lawn and should be done once a year, preferably in the fall.

One more thing on the lawn. If you’re only going to fertilize once a year, fall is the time to do it. Check with a local garden center about the best fertilizer blend for your fall grass type and local soil conditions, along with the best way to fertilize.

If you have a fireplace, you may be using it soon. So, this is the best time of year to get it cleaned. Depending on how often you use it though, this may be an every other fall task.

Fall is the time to check your gutters. They likely need cleaning and possibly replacing. Otherwise, you can end up with some interior flooding. You also want to have an expert look at your window wells. If your gutters are clogged, water may be collecting in the window wells. Enough water there can break the windows.

While that expert is looking at your window wells, have them look for window drafts as well. Heat loss through windows is responsible for more than 25 percent of your heating use.

As always on our seasonal home maintenance tips, don’t take on any projects that are too much for you. You want to avoid injury and having to call someone in to fix the problems you create.

Finally, enjoy the change of seasons – whenever it arrives.