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Garden Knowledge
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Garden Equipment Care
Power garden equipment,
such as lawn mowers, tillers and chippers, require regular maintenance.
This should be done after each use.Wipe down the equipment to remove dirt and debris. Tighten loose screws and nuts.
Sharpen cutting edges and wipe with an oily rag to prevent rust.
At the end of the
season your power garden equipment needs special attention. If your
equipment
has a four-cycle engine, change the oil by following instructions
listed in your owner's manual. Start the engine and let it run
until it stops, this will clear the fuel line. Garden equipment with
two-cycle
engines, or engines that run with a gas and oil mixture, also should
have the oil-gas mixture removed for the winter. Run the engine with
the choke open to remove fuel from the lines. Check the spark plug and
replace if it is worn. Replace other worn or damaged parts as well.Oil all pivot points and springs.
Avoid storing gasoline over the winter because old gasoline does not burn
easily, causing your equipment to operate erratically or not
at all.
Other garden equipment that needs regular care in the fall are sprayers, they should be thoroughly washed and rinsed after use. This includes all parts of the sprayer from the holding tank to the nozzles. Apply oil to moving parts as required; check your owners manual for specific instructions . Hang it upside down when not in use so that it can drain and dry thoroughly. If you use dusters the best way to keep them clean is to tap them to remove all materials that remain in the cracks and cling to surfaces. Lubricate dusters with graphite, not oil, to prevent sticking. Fertilizer spreaders should be cleaned thoroughly to prevent corrosion.
An important type of garden equipment that needs attention in the fall are your garden hand tools.Remove any loose dirt or plant material from your garden tools using a wire brush or scraper. Sharpen hoes, spades, pruners, loppers and saws. Check all of your garden tools thoroughly for loose screws or nuts and tighten them accordingly. Replace or repair broken handles and other bent or broken parts. Finally, spray all bare metal parts and cutting edges with penetrating oil like WD-40 to prevent rust. Wipe wooden handles with linseed oil to keep the wood from cracking and drying out.Wheelbarrows, carts and wagons are another type of garden equipment that needs some attention before winter. Clean them thoroughly and touch up any scratches with spray paint to keep the exposed metal from rusting.You may also want to oil the wheels to prevent that annoying squeak.
Taking the time to properly care for your garden equipment will result in many years of useful life for your tools and regular maintenance will also prevent expensive repairs in the future.
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