Lawn mowers are indeed the stars of garden maintenance during the growing season, but as mowing season wraps up, they’re often left gathering dust in the shed. While storing your mower for winter is the obvious first step, there are actually several ways to make it more useful during the off-season.
One prime opportunity lies in using your mower to tackle fallen leaves. Instead of the endless raking or blowing, you can mulch those leaves right on your lawn. Mowers equipped with a mulching feature—or those that can be fitted with mulching blades—chop leaves into tiny pieces that decompose on your lawn, creating a natural fertilizer. This method not only saves time but also enriches the soil, helping the grass thrive when spring returns.
Riding mowers, in particular, offer an additional advantage: they’re great for towing. Whether you need to haul firewood, distribute compost, or move tools around the property, a dump cart or small trailer can be attached to make these tasks a breeze. Larger lawn tractors and some riding mowers come with hitch attachments that let you pull a cart or spreader around the yard, reducing manual labor. Of course, it’s wise to check the mower’s towing capacity; overloading it could spell trouble for the engine or transmission.
Dethatching, a crucial lawn care step, is another chore where some mowers can lend a hand. Dethatching involves removing dead grass that forms a thick layer on the soil, blocking water and nutrients from reaching the roots. Certain mowers can be outfitted with a dethatching attachment with spring tines to pull up the dead grass layer, allowing the lawn to breathe and grow. However, some experts advise against relying solely on mower attachments for dethatching, noting that a dedicated dethatching machine can do a more thorough job.
It’s also worth noting that many garden mowers aren’t just for grass and leaves. With the right modifications, they can become helpful allies for a variety of other outdoor chores. In addition to towing tools, they can be used for minor grading, especially if your property has some rough patches that need leveling out.
So, while the mower’s main job may be taking a break for a few months, a little ingenuity can transform it into a multi-purpose tool, making off-season yard work much easier and preparing your lawn for a healthier start come spring. Rather than simply storing it away, put your mower to work and get some extra mileage out of it—even when the grass isn’t growing.
