Protecting garden equipment from frost

How to keep garden equipment in winter (infographic)

Before you put your gardening and gardening equipment into winter, you need to prepare it carefully. The more complex the device, the more attention it will require. We have put together an optimal algorithm for care.

At the end of the season, “heavy” garden equipment is sent to camp until the next spring. Often it is simply driven into the shed or closed in the house, wiping lightly with a rag. If you have not prepared the equipment for wintering, it may not start in the spring, as downtime in conditions of changing temperature and humidity regimes – a serious test for mechanisms. To a greater extent, this applies to gas equipment, which must be handled with particular care. And although there are usually extensive recommendations in the company manual, let’s remember the basic rules of storage of garden equipment.

General rules for preserving equipment

Every tool, regardless of type or purpose, should be washed, dried and inspected for wear and tear and replacement parts before storage. There is nothing worse than moisture getting on moving or vulnerable parts and mechanisms. Once frozen in an unheated room, it turns to ice and damages system components. For fire safety reasons, it is also desirable to let the gasoline benzenche. But the clocks are different recommendations – the equipment can not stay “dry”, so the oil for the winter is not removed, but replaced.

Stack the units when storing them, as indicated in the instruction manual

The cutting parts (e.g., lawn knife) should be sharpened, and the hinges should be cleaned and greased of dust and dirt. Check the condition of the fasteners and power cord of the power tool, and replace them if necessary, before reaching the handle. Next, we’ll take a closer look at any type of machinery and the requirements for preserving it.

How to Preserve a Chainsaw in Winter

This is probably one of the few tools for which there is work in the cold season. However, the operating temperature range of a chainsaw is usually small because it contains resistant parts, gas and oil. If the manufacturer guarantees the tool to work at e-10 ° C, it is a very good indicator, and such a saw can be used almost all year round. If you leave your dacha for a long time, take care of proper preservation.

“The heart” of each chainsaw is a single-cylinder two-stroke carburetor engine. Another important element is the chain. It is the care of these two elements that is the focus of most conservation recommendations:

• First drain the remaining fuel from the tank, carburetor and chain oil. To run out of fuel, you may turn off the chainsaw and wait until the gasoline runs out. After that, wipe the gas tank dry so it doesn’t start to rust. This is an option for long-term preservation, at least 3 months. But there is a second option for those who chop wood or do other work in the winter. In this case, it is recommended to fill the tank to the brim with quality gasoline and store it in this state. If you urgently need to cut down a tree – great, you have a fully ready-to-use equipment at your fingertips. But remember, gasoline, which after 2-3 weeks of frosty winter begins to resemble the consistency of jelly, can disable even a first-class engine;
• Use a wire dipstick or a homemade nozzle to remove the filter tips from the fuel and oil tanks. Rinse them and, once dry, put them back in or replace them with new ones, if necessary. Do the same with the air filter;
• Remove saw chain and guide bar and clean them of sawdust, wood dust and dirt;
• Remove the clutch cover, rinse thoroughly under warm running water and allow to dry. Lubricate the worm gear and side chain tensioning screw;
• Unscrew the spark plug and clean off any soot or fuel residue. Pour 5-7 ml of engine oil into the spark plug hole and turn the engine crankshaft 3 to 4 turns to distribute the oil over the connecting rod and cylinder-piston group. Leave the plunger at its highest point (in the raised position). Then put the spark plug back in place, but do not put on the ignition terminal.
• Coat the bar and chain with protective lubricant and store it wrapped in paper or cloth soaked in oil;
• Pack the tool and store the removed parts in a dry, dark, dust-free place.

Rotate the crankshaft about once a month to re-lubricate the connecting rods and piston cylinders.

If you have an electric saw, you only need to lubricate the guide bar and chain with a protective lubricant to preserve it.

How to store the lawnmower in winter

In the fall, this unit is sent to “well-deserved rest”, and closer to the end of spring it is removed. Due to such a long “service life”, the requirements for the maintenance of lawn mowers are very high.

petrol lawnmower

In a gasoline lawnmower, the main elements are the engine and the cutting parts. They should be given maximum attention:

• The first condition for proper storage is a room with humidity of no more than 70%, as well as no sudden changes in temperature that increase humidity.
• If you have worked with the mower a lot, grass particles and therefore moisture can get inside the device. So be sure to wash, clean and dry the blades and other parts within reach. remove grass residue from the housing, exhaust pipe, engine radiator, etc;
• When it comes to fuel, opinions are divided. Some dachshunds drain its residue and wipe the gas tank dry to keep condensation from forming in the winter. Another half, on the contrary, fills the tank to the brim and leaves it that way for the winter. However, in this case, poor-quality gasoline can fail, making it difficult to start the engine in the spring. Removing residual fluid from the carburetor is still easier than cleaning it of plaque and deposits, so we recommend the former option;
• Check the cutter blade – whether it needs to be repaired and sharpened. Don’t forget to remove and sharpen it for the winter. Contact a professional if necessary;
• The oil level should conform to the recommendations in the instruction manual (for 4-stroke engines).
• Keep the mower so that its bicycles do not touch the floor and in a suspended position or on stands.

Lawnmower electrical equipment

Over the winter, check the integrity of all contacts and inspect them for oxidation and rust. Otherwise, the electric motor does not require special preservation measures. Charge the battery for the winter, clean the body, deck and blade of grass, and if necessary, sharpen it.

How to store the trimmer in winter

Trimmers should not only be treated properly, but also properly preserved. Gasoline or electric trimmers are often simply thrown into the shed, where they lie until spring. Such carelessness can be costly.

Benzotrimmer

Benzotrimmers are powerful and compact devices that were designed to mow grass. Proper storage is one part of its long, trouble-free operation.

• Find a suitable place for storage. It should be a dry room with normal humidity, isolated from light sources and open flames. The trimmer must not be allowed to freeze. It is better to cover it with moisture absorbers (for example, an old ceiling).
• Drain all fuel mixture (gasoline and oil) and let the unit idle until it stops.
• Remove any grass residue between the blades and fixed parts of the trimmer, as well as from the blades. Do not be lazy and carefully inspect the body for any organic debris.
• Turn off and inspect the spark plug. The normal color of the electrodes is red; if they are covered in carbon deposits, they should be cleaned or replaced.
• Remove the metal blade and clean any dirt from it. Check the integrity of the blade – replace it if it is cracked or chipped. Store the blade that has been dried and cleaned of dirt separately;
• If your trimmer has a trimmer cord (fishing line), store it in fresh water over the winter. This way, it will retain its original flexibility, hold up under tension, and last longer.
• Keep the bike suspended. If the handlebar is bothersome, turn it the other way or unscrew it.

Before preserving it for the winter, check the integrity of the wires, insulation and contacts in the electric motor. Avoid sudden changes in temperature and do not keep the trimmer out in the cold. Condensation that forms may deactivate the contacts and other elements of the unit.

How to save the cultivator and power tiller in winter

Such “serious” agricultural machines as a cultivator and power tiller require proper care. The abundance of parts and complex device does not always allow you to completely clean the cultivator, and the recreational tractor from dirt, but it is still worth doing it.

• The first step is the preservation of the engine. Leave the gasoline and its residues until the engine has exhausted its life. Remove the oil and replace it with new oil before the engine cools down.
• Refresh the paper air filter or wash the foam filter with warm water and detergent. If it dries, soak it in machine oil. Clean the fuel filter;
• Turn off the spark plugs, clean them, soak them in gasoline, and dry them. Pour 15 ml of oil into the cylinder and press slowly on the shaft to distribute it in all parts. The ignition light bulb returns to its place;
• During inspection, clean all assemblies, parts, components, engine ribs and mufflers of dirt, earth and oil stains. When removing dirt from the gearbox, cutters and other parts, do not use iron scrapers, otherwise you will damage the protective layer and provoke the appearance of rust. It is better to take a wooden stick or spatula and wash the parts under running water. After the “water procedures” wipe everything with a cloth and dry it;
• Use a cloth to clean the cutters and the outer surface of the gearbox. Cover additional nozzles and other metal parts with a protective oil film, wrap them in wrapping paper and put them in a wooden or plastic box.

Using our tips, get absolutely ready-to-go machinery out of the budget in the spring, which will greatly simplify land work and help you get high yields with minimal effort.

Where and how to properly store garden equipment and tools in winter

Winter storage, or preservation of garden equipment and tools, is one of the pressing issues of the off-season. As a rule, tools are put away and then defined in the house, shed or garage. Is it right? After all, competent preservation for the winter is the key to the longevity of the tool.

Each kind has its own algorithm of preparation for “wintering”. And the more complicated the technique, the more complicated the algorithm. We will talk about the proper storage of land “helpers”. Let’s try to figure out what we do right and what we do wrong.

10 general rules of preparation for winter sheltering

As mentioned above, the preparation process and storage conditions depend on the complexity of the tool. You can’t argue with the fact that a shovel (albeit the most expensive, convenient and beloved one) is easier to clean and put away for the winter than a gasoline or electric saw and other implements.

Cleaning garden tools from dirt. Photo from lifehacker.co.in

1. All tools need to be cleaned of soil, dirt, grass and other things, washed well and dried. The key point in this step is “dry” because sometimes you don’t have the patience. Moisture left in the cracks and joints, getting into an unheated room (such as a barn), in the cold turns into ice, which can seriously damage the equipment. Not to mention machinery. To avoid this, leave your tools out in the sun for a few hours or keep them in a warm room until they are completely dry. IMPORTANT: To wash your head with how and what is the best way to wash pen forks, shovels, shovels and rakes, remember the universal method. The tools are poured with water in the cutter for 30 minutes. If desired, wash them with a washcloth or sponge. If the dirt just “does not give up,” you should add household soap, car wash or other not too aggressive household chemicals to the water.
2. All tools and equipment should be inspected for wear and tear or damaged parts. Determine for yourself what needs to be replaced first and what to pay attention to. Winter is the best time to fix gadgets!
3. Accessory lubrication is required. For example, cutting edges, so that there is no rust.
4. Owners of plastic tools should carefully study the instructions, paying special attention to the temperature criteria. Not all plastic is frost-proof!
5. Sharp tools (garden shears, garden shears, etc.) or tools with teeth (saws, metal saws, etc.) are best stored in cases after sharpening. If there are no special cases, you can adapt what you have. The easiest way – thick boxes or plastic boxes, an old watering hose, cut lengthwise (like a blanket for skating) and put on the sharp teeth. Some craftsmen even make sleeves out of old jackets. This procedure also works for saws.
6. Wood cuts and tool cuttings are also cleaned, washed thoroughly and dried even more thoroughly. You can cover them with a fresh coat of paint (don’t forget to remove the old one).
7. It is very important to store tools in an upright position or on special wall hooks. This way they will not get wet again.
8. For fire safety purposes, the gasoline from the device must be drained.
9. The oil from the gardening tools must not be drained out; it must be replaced with a winter oil of a different viscosity (if it is likely that the tools are started occasionally in winter) or with a special preservation compound (if the tools are definitely not started).
10. The room for storing instruments and tools should be dry, well ventilated, fireproof, and equipped with a secure lock.

Where are the equipment and tools stored?

If tools are ordered and prepared for long-term storage, they should be laid out and arranged in their proper places. The question arises where it is better to equip these places.

Option 1. in the shed.

• Large items (mostly gardening equipment) are placed on the floor, preferably at the entrance – if something is urgently needed in winter (for example, a gasoline generator).
• As mentioned above, small equipment is attached to hooks or in containers (perhaps buckets) that are attached to the wall. The order of placement is based on frequency of use. A cleaver probably won’t be needed in the winter, but a shovel may well be. Even if there is a special snow room shovel, an extra one can always come in handy.

Important: Of course, fertilizers, poisons, pesticides and other chemicals are not part of the inventory, but remain very often after the end of the gardening season. Whether or not to leave them for the winter will answer the instructions, which clearly indicate the temperature limits. If you decide to store until the next season, the container must be absolutely airtight. All containers should be labeled and properly shelved.

Option 2. In the garage

If there is no shed at the cottage for any reason and is not expected, but there is a garage, it is quite suitable for storing tools. In this case it is not necessary to take away space from the car and its accessories. It is enough to equip a “garden corner” in the garage. Recommendations on the layout can be found on the Internet, you can talk to friends and neighbors or distribute the plot yourself.

Start corner in the garage. Photo: ecx.images-amazon.com

Inventory stored in the garage should not harm the car. Therefore, you should not place it near the parking lot of the iron horse (the minimum distance – 1 meter). Even too high and tightly should not hang. Imagine your favorite car and a pitchfork or a rake, which for a second fly into it… Not a pretty picture! Anything can happen, sometimes even the most secure locks and hooks come off, so it’s best to be on the safe side.

Add 3rd Special Camp option

Not the most popular way, but it exists. There is no shed, no garage, the house is either small, or you do not want to overload it, and there is a lot of inventory – contact special companies that take for storage. Of course, it is unlikely that anyone will be looking for shovels and hoes as a keepsake. But those who have a lot of equipment for construction and other “bulky”, no-no, and use such services.

Container memory. Photo: algeco.ua

Interesting: In Russia such storage is not very common. On the contrary, the service self-storage is very popular in Europe, as Europeans value every available square meter, and do not tolerate, even temporarily, additional boxes, containers and other things in the house or apartment.

• On the company’s call,
• How long it keeps things.
• And also for what type of storage.

This way, you can properly store different types of devices and inventory

Shovel, scoop, pitchfork, handlebar, rake.

The easiest to store, both temporarily and long-term.

Shovel, scoop, pitchfork, handlebar, rake

1. Clean the metal elements and grab the dirt.
2. Wash, dry.
3. Pull out the sharp edges.
4. Coat the cuttings and negotiations with paint, wipe the metal parts with olive oil.

Hand tools.

1. Remove the dirt, wash and dry.
2. Replace defective parts as needed.
3. Lubricate to prevent corrosion.
4. Clean the guards.

Chainsaw

1. Drain the remaining gasoline or run it idle: the gasoline will run out and the tool will stand.
2. Then wipe the gasoline tank dry.
3. Remove the filter and air filter from the gas tank and oil tank.
4. Dry or replace them with new ones, then put them back in place.
5. Then you must remove the chain and tires, clean them thoroughly of sawdust, lubricate them with oil, and wrap them in paper.
6. The cup and spark plug are also cleaned.

Electric saws

With them everything is much easier. Electric saws are cleaned of dirt with a damp cloth. Chains and bars should be especially thoroughly cleaned and then coated with a protective lubricant.

Basil

1. First we remove grass particles from the blades and other parts of the lawnmower.
2. Then drain the remaining fuel and wipe down the gas tank to prevent condensation.
3. Check the oil level in accordance with the instruction manual.
4. Pay close attention to the cutting element. Determine whether it has been bored or completely replaced. Accordingly, sharpen or install a new blade.
5. Hang the machine ready for conservation on the wall or place it on a stand.

The electric lawnmower

Electric lawn mower before winter storage should be inspected for damaged (oxidized) contacts, blunted blades and dirty housing.

Benzotrimmers

1. Borzasolin.
2. According to the instructions determine what to do with the oil in a particular model.
3. We remove, clean and check the blades.
4. Change the spark plug.
5. If there is a fishing line, it must be removed.

Electric trimmer

Before servicing, pay attention to the integrity of the contacts, contacts and insulation. Clean blades and remove fishing line. Everything is similar to previous types of equipment.

Power tillers and cultivators

1. Start the general preservation with the preservation of the engine: remove fuel residues and change the oil.
2. Then we deal with the air filters: change the paper and wash the foam rubber with water and any detergent.
3. Clean the fuel filter.
4. We change the spark plug. Before using the new experimental gardener, it is recommended to pour 15-20 ml of oil into the cylinder and spin the shaft so that it distributes the parts.
5. All nozzles and metal parts of the device are coated with grease, wrapped in paper and placed in a box.

Here are a few options on how to keep your inventory and equipment safe and sound until next season. Maybe you have your own “winter” maintenance secrets that you want to share with other residents of the 7-year region?