• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Exmark's Backyard Life

Living Happens Outdoors

  • Rural Lifestyle
  • Outdoor Living
  • Lawn + Garden
  • Ambassadors
  • Originals
  • Search

How to Winterize Your Lawn Mower

October 20, 2020 by Exmark Mowers

Lawn + Garden /

Crisp air and falling leaves are tell-tale signs that mowing season is coming to an end. While your first instinct might be to park your mower and hunker down for winter, you’ll want to first ensure it’ll be ready, come springtime. Put another way, you’ll need to know how to winterize your lawn mower.

Proper mower winterization is a critical step in protecting your investment over the long haul. Extended periods of inactivity can wreak havoc on mowers, and the added effects of cold weather makes properly winterizing them even more important.

Whether you own a simple push mower or an entire fleet of zero-turns, you’d be wise to follow these winterization basics.

How to winterize your mower infographic - mower winterization guide

Full Cleaning

If you perform only one lawn mower winterization task this fall, make sure that’s fully cleaning it. Any debris left on a mower’s exterior or interior can result in moisture. And, this can cause rust, or a freezing/thawing cycle that’s bad for metal. Take any normal steps you would to clean other power equipment. This includes spraying the deck out, removing blades, and removing clumps of grass. When done correctly, your machine should be free of any grass, clippings or dirt.

Regular Maintenance

The next step in mower winterization involves changing the oil, spark plugs and air filters. Additionally, either empty out the fuel system or add a fuel stabilizer designed for winter storage. For more comprehensive maintenance, lubricate all friction points.

Once these steps have been performed, simply run the engine for a few minutes. Doing so will confirm that everything has been changed properly, and ensure that new fuel has been injected into the engine.

Battery Prep

Care for your battery properly throughout the winter by either charging it periodically, or removing it, altogether. If kept connected, make sure your battery doesn’t sit too long between cranks.

Tire Care

If your mower has pneumatic tires, park it on a non-concrete surface. If this isn’t an option, place a piece of cardboard on top of cold concrete to serve as insulation. Finally, rotate the tires so they don’t bear too much pressure on any one side.

Storage

The last step in winterize your lawn mower involves properly storing it. A garage or other covered structure are ideal places to protect mowers from cold and moisture. For added defense against the elements, try covering your mower. Finally, store it away from appliances, fertilizers, or any other corrosive materials known to compromise metal.

Follow these time-tested mower winterization tips and your mower will be as ready to go as you are, come spring!

More Mowing Tips:

  • When To Stop Lawn Mowing for the Season
  • Lawn Striping: How to Mow Stripes and Patterns
  • Lawn Mower Mistakes to Avoid

Primary Sidebar

Related Stories

How to Prevent Weeds from Growing this Spring

Read More
Man using Exmark mower to get a professional look

Creating a Mower-Friendly Lawn

Read More

Getting Your Lawn Ready for Winter

Read More

THE LATEST FROM THE YARD

Keep your DIY Resolutions
Rural Lifestyle
5 Tips to Help You Complete Your DIY Projects
Read More
Outdoor Living
How to Build a Grilling Island
Watch Now
Rural Lifestyle
Trapping Tips
Watch Now

Footer

Stay Connected

Keep living your best backyard life all year round. Get alerts on the latest original series updates, along with the inspiration and know-how you need to enjoy backyard life to the fullest!

  • Home
  • Rural Lifestyle
  • Outdoor Living
  • Lawn + Garden
  • Trending
  • Ambassadors
  • Originals
  • The Exmark Story
  • About
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube

Copyright © 2021 EXMARK - Backyard Life

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • DMCA

Trending

Watch <i data-lazy-src=