November 14, 2022, 4:12 pm | Read time: 4 minutes
Just as a sharp knife is sacred to a chef, good gardening tools and equipment are sacred to the hobby gardener. They can be quite expensive to purchase, so they should be well maintained. To avoid frustration next spring, learn here how to properly winterize mowers, spades, or garden hoses.
If you’ve invested money in your gardening tools, you naturally want them to last a long time. Before winterizing, they need special attention and care. If you don’t want to find rusty and dull blades or even a broken lawnmower in the next gardening season, you should take action before the cold season begins. This will save you not only frustration but also real money.
Overview
Clean and Sharpen Gardening Tools and Hand Tools
Wash or brush off gardening tools like spades and rakes before storing them in the tool shed for the winter. It’s especially important to remove any clinging soil, ideally with a sponge and water or a wire brush.
Take this opportunity to check the sharpness of blades. Rust spots on pruning shears can be removed with a sharpening stone or steel wool, then oiled with vegetable oil. Deep nicks in a spade are a job for the angle grinder.
If the wooden handles of gardening tools are rough, sand them down with sandpaper or a sanding sponge. Treating them with linseed oil afterward will make the handle smooth again. If it’s not securely attached, fix it with a screw.
For shears, a drop of oil on the joint is worthwhile. You should also clean the blades thoroughly. With some dexterity, you can completely disassemble pruning shears and disinfect them with alcohol or spirits. This can be beneficial, as otherwise pathogens for plants could overwinter on the blades. Sharpen them with a wet sharpening stone.
Tip: Store gardening tools in a dry place to prevent rust. The tool shed or garage is suitable for winter storage.
Properly Winterize Motorized Gardening Tools
Not only manual but especially electric gardening tools are prone to damage when winterizing. You should inspect the lawnmower blades in the fall and sharpen them if necessary. Scrape off coarse dirt with a wooden spatula; metal would damage the surface and could lead to corrosion.
Before unscrewing the blades, disconnect the spark plug on gasoline mowers. This is recommended by gardening expert Katja Fischborn from the DIY Academy Cologne to myHOMEBOOK: “Gasoline lawnmowers should be emptied and cleaned.” Remaining fuel could otherwise gum up and clog the lines or carburetor. It’s best to empty the tank during the last mowing, then soak up the remaining fuel with a clean cloth. A little oil in the cylinder helps the motor during winter storage.
For motorized devices like hedge trimmers or chainsaws, refill the fuel tank and add an additive. This prevents components such as valves from rusting. Let the machine run a bit after adding the additive so the substance distributes throughout the motor.
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How the Lawnmower Survives the Winter
For electric mowers, unplug the cable; for battery mowers, remove the battery and store it in a dry place, preferably indoors. If you own a robotic mower, clean the blades of grass clippings and soil with a brush or sponge. Do not use the garden hose, as it could easily damage the sensitive electronics. Store the charging station and battery indoors for the winter. This also applies to other battery-powered devices like hedge trimmers.
Note: You can oil metal parts on electric gardening tools for winter storage. This increases durability and prevents rust.
Drain the Garden Hose Before Frost
The garden hose must be empty for winter storage, as it could otherwise burst. Roll up the hose for winter storage and lay it flat. This prevents it from kinking and getting damaged.
DIY Tip: If you have an old garden hose you no longer use, you can make a “cut protection” for tools with sharp blades. Cut pieces from the hose, slit them lengthwise, and slip the sections over the axe, hoe, or saw. This keeps the blades sharp and prevents anyone from getting injured over the winter.