Here are some tips to help you properly store your lawn equipment and tools for winter.
- A good home gardener should have a good dry place to store his or her tools or equipment. A storage space within the garage area, a storage building, or a good shed are all workable options.
- Before storing your hand tools, be sure to clean them and apply a light coat of oil to all metal surfaces to prevent rust from forming. Check to see if any repairs are needed; repairing tools now will save time next spring when you want to use them again.
- Inspect your power equipment - belts, blades, etc. - and make any needed repairs now. Then drain all gasoline from tanks into a container for disposal. Start and run engines until they quit, to be sure the carburetor is dry. That will prevent diaphragms from sticking together.
- Thoroughly clean each piece of equipment and pay special attention to the cylinder fins and the air filter. Another good hint is to remove the spark plug and put a few drops of oil on top of the piston. Pull the starter rope a few times, then replace the spark plug. This will keep the cylinder oiled and prevent rust during storage.
- These simple tasks will keep your tools and equipment in shape and ready to go next spring.
Arlin George, Smith County Master Gardener
Texas Cooperative Extension
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