Winter is quickly approaching, and you must take the time to prepare for it. It’s time to perform key winterization processes around your home and prep equipment for the long stint in storage. Your landscaping equipment, especially, needs careful pre-winter maintenance to ensure that it’s in good shape come spring. Here are some landscaping tools and pieces of equipment that you need to prepare for winter this year.
String Trimmer
String trimmers are essential for cutting down weeds at their source and keeping your property looking clean-cut. But as the temperatures cool off, you want to make sure that these machines stay protected from the elements. Take some time to clean the string head or replace it if you discover damage. Should you own a model with a gas motor, make sure that you change the oil before packing it away in the garage or shed.
Garden Hoses
Your gardening hose is another crucial landscaping tool to prepare for winter. Even if you turn off your home’s exterior spigots, droplets can still collect in the hose and freeze. In large enough quantities, this can cause the hose to expand or break. Because of this, you want to remove any nozzles and make sure that you completely drain the hose. You can use this time to patch any leaks in the material as well.
Finish Cut Mower
Another piece of equipment to have on your radar during winter preparations is your lawn mower. Even the most heavy-duty finish cut mowers are susceptible to damage and rust if not properly prepared for the cold. This guide to winterizing a finish cut mower details the steps to take before placing your machine in storage. Some important things to note include cleaning out the cutting deck and inspecting the equipment for damage.
Hand Tools
Even your smaller hand tools will need some attention before the cold hits. After an active summer and fall gardening season, trowels can lose their edge, and hand rakes can go dull. There can also be large quantities of soil left on them from past projects, which may cause premature oxidization and rusting while in storage. Cleaning and sharpening these items reduces the risk of damage during the winter months and ensures they’re usable when planting next year’s garden.
By preparing these tools for the long winter now, you’ll set yourself up for an easier transition into springtime. So, make sure you place these tasks a little higher on your to-do list as we near the end of the year.
