By Wally Peck
Beltrami County Master Gardener
This is a fall gardeners will talk about for a long time! Let’s
hope for a return to warmer days to get some of this stuff done.
Fall is a great time to change oil on your mowers and other yard
equipment so it doesn’t sit all winter with that black sludge in the
crankcase. Sharpen the blades now and clean out the under side of the
deck so that does not rust. Remember to disconnect the spark plug
when you remove the blade or clean underneath. Fingers get too mushed
up to reattach when a dull mower blade whacks them a few times.
With all those gas powered tools that you have to mix gas for - the
weed whip, leaf blower, chain saw, little tiller, it’s really better
to drain the gas back into a can and add stabilizer to the can. Run
the tool ‘til it quits; then the carb won’t get all gummed up by
spring. This goes for the boat motor too!
While you’re at it, check out the snow blower now before we get
some real accumulation. Most snow blowers have a chain that drives
the auger. Tip the blower forward and give it a good application of
chain lube. Check the gear case right in the middle of the auger too.
An application of car wax to the inside of the blower and chute
really helps with wet sticky snow. Change the oil on the engine
(10W30, not straight 30 weight), put in some fresh gas and you should
be ready to go. You say the old gas is still in there from last
spring? Cross your fingers. Remember the hint about painting tool
handles? A really bright or obnoxious color really makes them stand
out in the neighbor’s garage when you survey the neighborhood
looking for them. Also, when you run the mower over all these leaves,
the shovel you left in the yard stands out just before you run over it.
I have found that the leaf blower I use at 7 a.m. on Sunday morning
really works well to get the leaves out of the rain gutters. Let’s
hope they fall before another wet snow turns them into a solid mass.
We’re blessed with a 4/12 pitch roof so I can just walk along the
edge and blow them down into the flower bed the old girl has just
cleaned out! If you have a steep roof, do it from a ladder.
I hope you disconnected your hoses before this latest freeze up. I
learned the hard way that the hose bib bursts on the hose side of the
valve so you won’t know there’s a problem until the next time you
turn it on in the spring. Then you hear water running but nothing
comes out of the hose. So you say, “oh darn,” and get out the wet
vac and head for the basement.
Being really ahead of the game this year, we just had the septic
pumped. If you want to take your chances, put some of those little
utility flags where the access cover is. That way if you have to dig
it up in January, you’ll know where.
It’s a really good time to pay some attention to all your garden
tools. Clean off the shovels, forks and hoes and give them a light
coat of oil. Sharpen the clippers, loppers, and shears so they are
ready for spring. Linseed oil or paint is great for handles. Get them
all hung up and organized so your kids or relatives will gasp in
amazement at your garage. When you get to be my age, a little picture
of each tool cut from a catalog and taped to each appropriate spot
will help you remember your organizational scheme!
When you get all these tasks done, have a cup of coffee and start
making notes for the seeds and plants you want to put in next year
before the seed catalogs come next month. p.s. - Better look for the
snow shovel!
