With mowing season in the books, it’s about time to put your Exmark to bed. But it’s not as simple as just parking it in your garage over those long winter months. To keep your mower running strong, you have to take the proper precautions. And if you’re not sure where to start with winterizing your mower, don’t fret! Former professional landscaper and MLF Pro Brian Latimer is here to walk you through the steps he takes to get his Exmark mower ready for winter storage.
Clear the Debris
Before anything else, the first thing you should do to winterize your mower is clear your deck of any debris. Leaf and grass debris that have accumulated throughout the season will retain moisture that can damage your deck’s metal. If not addressed, you could be faced with a rusty mess come spring. B. Lat recommends pressure washing your mower so you can easily clear out any debris.
Fill Your Tank
B. Lat says that one of the most common issues he sees with mowers after the winter break stems from improper fuel maintenance. If you aren’t careful, old fuel left in the tank over winter can solidify and clog up your mower. To avoid that, Latimer completely fills up his tank with non-ethanol high-test fuel, which helps reduce deadly moisture buildup.
“If You’re Cold, They’re Cold”
Another critical step in mower care is bringing it indoors—if possible—to avoid exposure to the elements. Latimer stresses that you don’t need some fancy temperature-controlled garage, but pulling it into some sort of coverage will go a long way in helping prevent parts from rusting or freezing.
Charge It Up
Latimer recommends using a 2- or 5-amp trickle charger for your battery throughout winter. It’s vital to keep a charge on your battery through those cold months—or, come spring, it’ll be dead, and your mowing ambitions delayed until you’re able to give it a jump-start.
With these steps in mind, go prep your mower for the cold weather ahead so you can hit next mowing season running!
