Fall is here! The leaves are changing colors, the temperatures are dropping, and leaves may be covering your yard; but all that will be over soon. After a long, sweltering summer your yard may be slowly dying and once all the leaves fall and winter sets in, it will be time to put up your lawn equipment until the spring. You may have thought about a winterizing home plan, but do you know how to winterize your lawn equipment so when spring arrives, you can ensure it will be in good working order?
Useful Tips When Winterizing Your Lawn Equipment
Most of you have, some time or another, hurriedly shoved your lawn equipment into the shed or wherever else it is stored, failing to clean it and show the proper care. In an effort to change that, here are some tips to care for your lawn equipment so it will be operational when you need it next.
Storing Outside- When you put your lawnmower up for its winter nap in either a shed or garage, make sure you fill the gas tank with gasoline and top it with a fuel stabilizer and follow the directions accordingly. Please note that if your mower isn’t being operated, the gasoline can go bad and get sticky which can cause blockage in the gas tank. The fuel stabilizer prevents condensation and evaporation in the fuel system. This way when spring rolls around you can expect to have it running smoothly.
Storing Inside- If you plan to store your lawnmower in a climate-controlled area, it is recommended you drain the gas or run the mower until you have exhausted all the gas. Doing this can help prevent the risk of a fire in your home.
Cleaning and Maintenance- Typically, after every mowing, you should clean any grass clippings that get stuck to the underside of your mower; however, that may not be all that convenient. If you don’t do that, make sure before you store it away you do a thorough cleaning of your mower deck (underside). Also, NOW is the time to do any type of maintenance versus the spring when there is a high demand. Go ahead and have the blade sharpened, replace spark plugs, and have the oil changed. If you don’t have the experience, there are service companies who do this.
Other Gas-Powered Lawn Equipment- When the frost comes and it’s time to hibernate all your lawn equipment for the winter, don’t forget about all your gas-powered equipment such as edgers, leaf blowers, and weed eaters. They, too, need to be cleaned, have routine maintenance done, and gas drained. If they are battery operated, make sure the batteries are removed and kept inside your home.
Taking the time to do these tips can save you money and time when spring arrives. Once the grass begins to turn green and the tree leaves re-emerge, you can rest assured your lawn equipment had the proper care to survive another season!
