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There’s No Point in Rototilling in Fall

Many gardeners prefer to leave all tilling work for springtime. The belief is that spring rains will make the ground softer and easier to till. While it’s true that soft earth is easier to work, don’t forget that in fall you have the essential step of bed clean-out to tackle. You’ll be hauling any dead plant matter out of your beds anyway, which means you’ve already done the majority of the prep work for rototilling. Go ahead and break out the tiller, and in springtime you’ll pat yourself on the back for your foresight.

Tilling in fall has an added bonus: it will let you use up the last of the gas in your rototiller, and urge you to prep it for winter storage.

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You can Forget About your Summer Tools in the Off Season

Depending on how severe winter is where you live, this can be one of the most pernicious myths on this list! If you suffer through freezing temperatures, it’s very important that you prep your garden tools for these cold conditions. Drain the gas from your rototiller, lawnmower and gas powered leaf blower. If you use a pressure washer, drain the water and fill the reservoir with antifreeze.

If your winters don’t freeze, but instead tend towards the damp end of the spectrum, your prep will be slightly different. Instead of avoiding freezing, watch for the prevalent damp that can lead to rust on your favorite tools. Wipe off any mud and dry your tools before putting them away. If you have some tools that require extra care, consider coating the metal with linseed oil or other anti-rust protection. Lastly, if you have any materials such as paint that don’t do well in extreme temperatures, consider bringing them indoors.

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