Five tips for winterizing garden tools

There are just a few more turns around the lawn before it will be time to put your warm-weather yard-care duties to rest.

But experts caution not to put your yard equipment into storage without winterizing.

“People tend to neglect doing these chores,” said Jerry Campbell, manager of Ace Hardware on Dayton Boulevard.

An ounce of prevention before winter will give homeowners a head start when the tools are needed again.

Mr. Campbell said now is the time to have your lawnmower serviced, instead of waiting until spring when repair shops are backed up. “It’s best to take care of these things in the fall by planning ahead,” he said.

Here are five tips Mr. Campbell offers homeowners.

1 Lawnmower: Drain the gas tank completely, or add a fuel stabilizer such as Sta-Bil to the gas in the tank. If you don’t, lacquer will build up in the carburetor over the winter, and you’ll end up spending $40 to $50 to have it rebuilt.

2 Chainsaw: Make sure it’s sharpened, and make sure you have extra two-cycle oil and gas in case of downed limbs during the winter.

3 Faucet: You can buy covers that snap on and off easily. Or use a triple layer of old socks, covered with plastic and secured with a rubber band, to prevent freezing.

4 Garden hoses: Don’t leave them hooked up because water will remain in the faucet head. The water will freeze and make the hose brittle. It doesn’t have to get below 32 degrees to freeze. A stiff north wind blowing across the faucet can freeze it when the temperature gets in the mid-30s.

5 Leaf rake: When your leaf-raking duties are done, clean the tines and spray them with a light oil to keep them from rusting.