Eight tips for how to make your garden and garden tools winter-proof
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Landau a. d. Isar, October 12th, 2021 – Fall is the time to think about your garden. Before the first frost comes, you should make your garden and garden tools winter-proof so that there are no unpleasant surprises in the spring, advises Michael Gröstenberger, Category Manager Garden for garden and DIY company Einhell Germany AG.
Tips & tricks
Tip 1: Cut hedges: “To protect breeding birds, you are only allowed to cut hedges again from the start of October. Given that this will produce a lot of clippings, you should do this job right at the start of your winter-proofing,” explains Gröstenberger.
Tip 2: Mow the lawn: “The lawn should be mowed for the last time, but higher than usual so that the stalks still get enough light even in the dark time of year. You can also now carefully dig out the edges of the lawn again to prevent the grass spreading into the beds in the spring. To make the lawn winter-proof, you must then remove all the foliage, otherwise there will be brown patches come the spring”, Gröstenberger advises.
Tip 3: Clean tools: Once all the work has been done, thoroughly clean all garden tools such as the lawnmower, hedge trimmers, saws and even spades or rakes. Grass and soil that is stuck to the surfaces of mowers or scarifiers, for instance, should be removed. Coarse dirt is best scraped off using a wooden or plastic spatula, but for finer dirt a brush or damp cloth will suffice. When cleaning the catch basket, particularly if it is made of textile, it is important to let it dry out thoroughly afterwards, as a wet catch basket will otherwise allow mold to form. Garden tools must be completely dry before being stowed away in the shed. This is particularly important for wooden handles so that they do not swell.
If you are to get a clean cut profile next spring, you must also clean the blades of the lawnmower, if necessary re-sharpen them and then oil them. Take care, though: To avoid injury, wear gloves while doing so. “To care for metal and cutting surfaces, rub biodegradable oils such as linseed oil into them,” says Gröstenberger.
When cleaning the tools, take the opportunity to check that they are working properly and that electric cables, for instance, are not damaged. “Now, over the winter, you have plenty of time to take tools for repair, replace them or get spare parts,” the Einhell garden expert adds.
Tip 4: Protect batteries: There is still plenty to be done before lawnmowers and scarifiers are put into their winter quarters. With cordless lawnmowers or scarifiers, remove the battery from the machine and store it in a dry, frost-free place at a storage temperature of between 15 and 20 degrees Celsius. However, a battery should not be left unused for too long. Ideally, it should be no longer than six months. Before putting it into storage, it is also advisable to check the current charge level of the battery. In the optimum case it will be between 30 and 60 percent.
“With the Power X-Change batteries from Einhell, this is the case if there are two LEDs still lit. The battery should also be stored separately from the charger, to prevent premature aging,” says the Einhell garden expert.
Tip 5: Make petrol engines winter-proof: With petrol-driven machines, check the oil level and change the oil if necessary. Check and clean the air filter while doing so. It is also advisable to empty the petrol tank completely before the winter break. “If the particular machine is not to lose its ignition capability, the tank must be emptied completely or the engine must simply be left to run until it empties by itself,” advises Einhell’s Michael Gröstenberger. “The ethanol in the petrol also has a hygroscopic effect, which means that it precipitates from a certain level of water saturation, forming a highly rust-promoting water-alcohol phase at the bottom of the tank.”
Tip 6: Clean chainsaws: “It is important to dismantle both the chain and the guard and to clean them, ideally with compressed air,” says Einhell garden expert Gröstenberger. Resin and other dirt on the housing is most easily removed with petroleum ether. After cleaning, it makes sense to sharpen the dismantled saw chain and inspect it for damage. Damaged saw chains should be repaired or replaced immediately. To avoid flash rust, grease both the guard and the chain after cleaning and assembly. With a petrol chainsaw, it is advisable to empty the tank and carburetor, top up the oil and check the spark plug. You should also clean the air filter, inspect it for wear and replace it if necessary.
Tip 7: Isolate the water supply: “When water freezes, it expands, which can cause enormous damage,” explains Gröstenberger, who advises working systematically through a checklist: “The most important thing is to isolate all external water taps. You should also empty watering cans, rain barrels and garden hoses so that ice does not cause any cracks or lead to damage.”
Tip 8: The garden pond: Anyone using pumps for filling ponds or watering the garden must always turn them off over the winter. The water needs to be drained off so that it does not freeze in the pump and burst the housing. Again, it makes sense to clean this equipment thoroughly before the winter, removing algae and foliage residue especially. Only a deep-well pump can remain in the well pipe, as it is below the frost line.
About Einhell Germany AG
Einhell is a leading manufacturer of state-of-the-art tools and equipment for the house and garden. From its headquarters in Landau/Isar (Bavaria), the internationally successful company has continuously expanded its innovative rechargeable battery platform Power X-Change and is now the market leader in the area of cordless tools and garden equipment. For many years Einhell has set new standards in terms of endurance, performance, and safety. Einhell customers appreciate the freedom of cordless operation for all their DIY projects, as well as the excellent value for money that Einhell products represent and the first-class customer service offered by the company.
Press contact: Monika Aigner, Tel.: +49 9951 942 826, E-Mail: monika.aigner@einhell.com