Winterizing your mower is a crucial part of your seasonal mower care. It’s important that you take precautions to keep your mower safe and clean throughout the winter season. If you’re not sure where to start with winterizing your mower, no worries! Former professional landscaper and MLF Pro, Brian Latimer will lead you through the steps he takes to get his Exmark mower ready for winter storage.
- Clear the Debris
The first thing you should do to winterize your mower is clear your deck of any debris. Leaf and grass mulch that’s gathered there will retain moisture and, if not addressed, could rust out your deck over time if you don’t clear it off. B. Lat recommends pressure washing your mower so you can get all of the debris easily. - Fill Your Tank
B. Lat says that one of the most common issues he sees with mowers after the winter break in usage is a fuel-related issue. If you aren’t careful, your fuel can go bad in the tank and your mower won’t be ready to go in the warm months. To avoid that, Latimer fills his tank up with non-ethanol (he says this is very important) high-test fuel. Filling it up will allow less moisture to build up in your tank. - “If You’re Cold, They’re Cold”
Another important step in mower care is bringing it indoors, if at all possible, to avoid exposing it to the elements. Latimer assures you that you don’t need a fancy temperature-controlled garage to keep your mower safe, but pulling it into some sort of coverage will help prevent rusting or freezing of parts. - Keep It Charged
Latimer recommends using a 2 or 5-amp trickle charger on your battery throughout the winter months. It’s important to keep it charging throughout the cold months or come spring, your battery will be dead, and you won’t be able to get started mowing until you’ve jump-started it.
With these great steps in mind, go get your mower ready for the winter season!
