How to Protect Your Battery-Powered Garden Tools from Winter Damage
As we move towards the winter months, it’s time to think about putting your battery-powered garden machinery away for a well-earned rest. Proper preparation before winter storage will help to protect your tools, extend their lifespan and ensure they’re ready to go when spring rolls around.
To maximise the life of your battery machinery and for peace of mind, it is well worth having your tools professionally serviced at our Tadley workshop. If you live near Basingstoke and the surrounding areas and would like to enquire, simply get in touch with the store, or you can book your machinery in online.
Why Winter Prep Matters for Battery Garden Tools
Battery-powered garden tools have become increasingly popular in the UK – and for good reason. They’re cleaner, quieter, and easier to maintain than traditional petrol machines.
However, their lithium-ion batteries don’t cope well with cold or damp conditions, and leaving batteries or tools in freezing temperatures can shorten their life and reduce performance.
A little winter maintenance now can save you from flat batteries, damaged components, or costly replacements later — keeping your cordless kit in top condition for next season.
Here are our top tips on prepping for the colder months ahead.
The Essential Steps
1. Give Everything a Good Clean
Before tucking your tools away, make sure they are clean and dry. Dirt and grass residue can trap moisture, leading to corrosion or mould.
Lawn Mowers
- Brush away grass clippings from under the deck, around the blades, and near the vents. Use a stiff brush or plastic scraper and avoid hosing down anything electrical.
Hedge Trimmers and Strimmers
- Wipe down blades and remove sticky sap or residue with a suitable cleaner. Once clean, apply a thin layer of tool oil to metal parts to stop rust from forming.
All Tools
- Check for loose screws, cracks, or worn-out parts. Sorting these out now means you’ll be ready to go when spring arrives.
2. Battery Care - The Big One
Your batteries are the heart of your machines, so treat them with great care over winter.
Charge Them Halfway
- Aim for about 40–60% charge before storage. Storing batteries fully charged or completely flat can cause long-term damage.
Remove From The Tools
- Always take batteries out before putting equipment away. This stops slow power drain and protects the connections.
Store in a Mild, Dry Place
- Somewhere cool and stable - ideally between 5°C and 20°C. Avoid freezing sheds and garages – ideally, a cupboard or utility room is much safer.
Keep Them Dry
- Moisture and batteries don’t mix. Make sure they’re completely dry before storage.
Check Mid-Winter
- Around January or February, give them a quick check and a short top-up charge if needed to keep them healthy.
3. Storing your Garden Tools
Once everything’s clean and the batteries are out, think about where to keep your tools:
- Keep it dry: Choose a weatherproof shed or garage. If it gets damp, it’s worth adding moisture-absorbing products (readily available from major hardware/DIY stores)
- Avoid frost: While the machines can handle the cold better than the batteries, extreme low temperatures can still cause damage.
- Get them off the floor: Use hooks or racks to hang tools up neatly - it saves space and prevents accidental knocks.
- Cover the sharp bits: Wrap blades or use guards to prevent rust and keep things safe.
4. Don’t Forget the Charger
Your charger deserves a bit of care too. Keep it clean, dry, and away from dust. Coil the cable loosely – tight wrapping can damage the internal wiring – and check for any fraying or damage.
When Spring Returns
When the first hint of green appears again, you’ll be glad you took the time to winterise your equipment. Give everything a once-over before the season starts:
- Charge the batteries fully.
- Check that blades are sharp and ready.
- Run each tool briefly to make sure it’s working properly
If the blades are dull, now is a great time to bring them into our Tadley store and get them sharpened professionally.
Clean, Charge, Store for a Stress-Free Spring
Spending a little time to clean, charge, and correctly store your battery garden machinery will pay off come spring. Modern lithium-ion batteries are powerful and reliable and they’ll reward proper care with long, dependable service.
Make sure you give your tools the attention they deserve, putting your batteries somewhere warm and dry, so that you can relax knowing your garden machinery will be ready to go when the garden starts growing again!
Our cordless machinery service includes a PAT test on the charger for full peace of mind, as well as the usual checking, tightening, clearing, cleaning and blade sharpening (if needed). Now is the perfect time to get started – before the worst of the winter weather arrives and while you can still work comfortably in the shed.
You can simply drop your machinery into our Tadley store for a service and we will do all the work for you! (Or call us if you would like us to collect/deliver).
Please note, these are just general tips to help you get started, and we always recommend you check your machine’s manual for specific advice before winterising.