Although the calendar shows today that it’s the start of winter, the temperature and weather forecast paint a different picture.

Nevertheless, it is time to wrap up those last minute gardening chores and put equipment away for the winter. Here are a few tips that will help you successfully store your lawn mower all winter.

Begin by draining the unused fuel from the gas tank. Make sure to do this in a well-ventilated location with no open flames such as space heaters or hot water heaters. Unused gas left in the tank can go stale and not perform well next spring. Likewise, drain the oil and fill it with fresh oil. Be sure to recycle the used oil and not discard it where it can contaminate surface or ground water. Most local auto part stores and oil changing service centers accept used fluid.

Next, remove and clean the air filter. Grass and dirt can clog the filter decreasing engine performance. Lightly soak the cleaned filter with oil, which helps capture finer dust particles. Remove and replace the spark plug. Depending on how much you use the mower, the plug should be replaced once a season. If the plug is burned, cracked or worn replace it. If it is only dirty, use steel wool or emery cloth to clean the firing tip. Make sure to check the gap so the plug fires properly when reinstalled.

Finally, remove and sharpen the mower blade. Mowing can be one of the most critical and underrated cultural practices in turf-grass management. Sharp mower blades are essential for proper mowing. They leave a smooth cut surface that heals quickly. Dull ones tear the grass blades, leaving a shredded tip that attracts insects or disease.

Sharpening rotary mower blades is fairly straightforward. The following steps should help guide you through the process:

l Check the blade for major damage. Blades that have large chips or are bent will need to be replaced.

l Remove grass and debris from the blade with a moist cloth.

l Remove nicks from the cutting edge using a grinding wheel, bench grinder or hand-file. If using a grinding wheel or bench grinder, match the existing edge angle to the wheel. If hand-filing, file at the same angle as the existing edge. Avoid overheating the blade as this may warp it.

l Grind or file until the cutting edge is 1/32 inch thick or about the size of a period.

l Clean the blade with solvent or light-weight oil for optimum winter storage. Avoid using water as it will promote rust.

— Bruce Chladny is horticulture agent at K-State Research and Extension-Douglas County. For more information, call him at 843-7058 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.