7 Smart Ways You Could Be Using Your Lawn Mower In The Winter

When temperatures dip during the winter months and the ground is frozen solid, it usually means vacation time for lawn mowers. With no grass to cut, the tools designed specifically for that job are usually stored away (perhaps in a DIY lawn mower shed) to give snow blowers, shovels, and other lawn equipment its time to shine. While letting your mower rest is not a terrible idea, you don't have to fully give it over to the spiders to cover in cobwebs when winter comes around. 

There are several ways you could be using your riding mower or push mower during the winter. Thanks to various attachments available on the market, as well as simple and reversible modifications, you could turn that seemingly seasonal machine into a year-round workhorse. Whether you're in snow country or somewhere dry and chilly, we've got you covered with these smart tips for making the most out of your investment.

Just because the word "mower" is in its name, it doesn't mean your lawn mower is a one-trick pony. Both push mowers and riding mowers make for excellent leaf mulchers in the aftermath of fall. Mulching differs from regular mowing because the blades cut the grass and leaves multiple times instead of just once, creating smaller pieces that decompose quicker. Many manufacturers sell mulching blades, but the job can be done without this attachment. All you need to do is change the settings on your lawn mower. 

Riding mowers and lawn tractors often come with built-in hitches that let owners tow clippings and tools from one place to the next. If yours doesn't come with this feature, there are aftermarket universal hitches — like this grandora Universal Towing Hitch — that bolt onto the back, so you can connect the mower to dump carts or other accessories. Hauling firewood or other heavy supplies (animal feed, groceries, or ice melt) will save your back and keep your mower's motor running during the off-season.

Unless you live on a farm, odds are you don't have access to a full-sized plow. Plow attachments for lawn tractors, like this KUAFU Snow Plow Blade, replace the need for shovels and manual labor. Two benefits to using a tractor plow over an actual plow or an attachment for your truck are the cost and the ability to maneuver into much smaller spaces. There are some downsides to using your mower as a plow in the winter, but as long as you keep up with the maintenance and use it sparingly, the mower should last for many seasons.

With the blades removed, a lawn tractor makes for a fun recreational vehicle for the whole family. Depending on the type, mowers have a top speed of about 4 to 8 MPH on average, which is a bit less than the speed of your typical hayride. Small children will love being pulled in sleds through the snow on flat terrain. Safety is the main consideration, so be sure to clear debris from the path first, grab some air plugs and face coverings, and keep the mower at a slow and steady pace.

There are dual-purpose mower attachments that can come in handy if you want to automate salting (you can also use them if you don't want to spread seeds without lawn tools). These attachments are perfect for spreading salt around your property before or after a snowstorm quickly. For example, this Agri-Fab Tow-Behind Spreader has a hopper with a 130-pound capacity. This attachment can hold way more salt than you would want to carry in your hands if you were doing the job manually, which means time and effort saved.

Most lawn maintenance can be paused through the winter, but there are some sneaky weeds that can wreak havoc on your lawn even in colder months of the year. If you're not stomping through snow quite yet, and the grass is not wet, keeping a push mower handy might be the wise option for times when the annual bluegrass (Poa annua) and prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola L.) attempt to take over your yard behind your back.

To bring your lawn back to life as winter winds down, you should try aerating it. Aerating compacted soil gives air and water a chance to reach and nourish the roots below, so when spring hits, the greenery can return at its finest. Using an attachment like this Agri-Fab Tow-Behind aerator with your riding mower saves time and greatly reduces the amount of manual labor needed to aerate soil. Your body and lawn will thank you.