January: maintenance month
January in terms of garden work is a period in which there is not much to do. Most of the plants have already lost their leaves a few months back and these have been cleared away in most cases. Also, often the last pruning work has already taken place. Therefore, January is a quiet month when it comes to gardening. What you can do, however, is to give your garden machinery a service. This way you will prepare them for spring so that they can once again be used to their full potential!
Optimal lifespan
Generally, you buy a gardening machine with the idea that it will last you a long time. After all, buying a hedge trimmer, lawnmower or chainsaw is quite the purchase. However, the lifespan of your gardening machine is partly in your own hands. If you take good care of your equipment and service it regularly, you can enjoy the optimal service life of your machines. But what do you need to check and maintain? We are happy to explain!
Safety first
There is one important difference between maintaining an electric garden machine and one that runs on petrol. With an electric gardening machine, you should always unplug it before starting maintenance. Always check this carefully to avoid accidents!
What does matter with both types of machines is wearing safety equipment. Wear good gloves and possibly safety glasses to protect yourself from the sharp blades and possible dislodged material.
Perfectly clean
Once you have completely protected yourself from any accidents, we recommend starting with a thorough cleaning of your gardening machine. Remove any green debris you come across, such as grass, leaves, branches, sand and so on. If these residues remain, they can cause major damage. You can clean the machine with a spatula made of wood or plastic. For more stubborn dirt, you can use a brush. If you still cannot get the machine completely clean, you can treat it with water. Afterwards, always make sure everything is dry again to prevent rust.
Razor-sharp
Now that everything is shiny again, it is time to check the blades of your machine. For your machine to work optimally, it is important that the blades are always sharp. This facilitates work and ensures that you use less power or petrol. So it is advisable to give your blades a good sharpening (or have them sharpened). With sharp knives, you can make a good start with your garden work in the new season.
Thorough inspection
Next, give your machine a complete inspection. Are all the screws still tight? Is the handle still intact and without cracks? Are all levers still working properly? Is the power connection still secure and is there no leak in the fuel tank? Check every part of the machine carefully, tighten screws where necessary and replace parts that are seriously worn. This is also the stage where you check whether the machine still runs smoothly. If it moves with difficulty, you can treat it with oil. Another tip is to apply anti-rust protection to keep everything in good condition.
Ready for spring
When you have gone through all the steps above and taken the necessary action at each step, you can start enjoying the months until the new gardening season with peace of mind. Your machine is all in shape and ready to be safely used again in the spring. Keep that new season coming!