How to Prepare Your Mower and Lawn Tools for Winter

Art White, of White's Farm Supply, likes to joke that each fall, he mows his lawn short so all the leaves blow over to the neighbor's yard.

At least, we're pretty sure it's a joke.

Anyway, Mr. White also is full of advice for safely preparing your mower and other lawn tools for winter. Here are his top tips:

1) About the gasoline. In general, he suggests using non-ethanol fuel in mowers and other gas-powered equipment. Non-ethanol gas doesn't need to be drained before the equipment is stored and has a shelf life of about a year, so you don't need to bother with fuel stabilizer. But ethanol gas should be drained to avoid rusting over winter.

2) Repel rodents looking for a warm nesting place. They are notorious for curling up in wiring or around an engine. Simple solutions include shaving Irish Spring bar soap or placing dryer sheets in the area. Don't forget to put dryer sheets in the cab of your compact tractor if you're not using it during the winter.

3) For track vehicles or jacks, put pieces of wood underneath them so they don't freeze to the ground.

4) For equipment with liquid coolant, make sure the coolant is at the proper level so it doesn't freeze.

It's not too early to think about spring, too. White's Farm Supply is offering discounts on spring tune-ups. Save some money and ensure everything's ready to start this spring — months before you need it.

Remember: They have five locations where you can have your equipment serviced, and if you don't have the equipment to deliver it to them, they have a fleet of vehicles that can pick it up for you!