How to Store Lawn Mower Outside (With No Shed)

While the ideal place to store a mower in the off-season is in a garage or shed, not everyone has the space or ability to do this. So if you’re wondering if you can store your mower outside and keep it in good condition, you’ve come to the right place. I’ve dealt with this situation before and have come up with a few tips to ensure your mower stays in good shape while being kept outside.

So before getting started, let’s work out where to store your lawn mower and how you can keep it protected from the elements.

Is It Ok to Store Your Mower Outside? (The Short Answer)

Yes, it is okay to store your lawn mower outside. But, it will need to be protected from the damage weather can do to it. Sun, rain, snow, and even wind can cause damage to a lawn mower and will definitely shorten its lifespan. So, selecting an appropriate location and adequate protection will ensure you avoid the damaging effects of the environment.

Storing Your Lawn Mower Outside – How to Do It Right

If you have chosen to store your lawn mower outside (or are forced to due to a lack of a suitable inside space), you first want to consider which is the best place in the yard. What may seem like a good place today may not be in a few months, so you’ll need to think ahead. Let’s go over what scenarios you should think about when considering where to store a lawn mower outside.

Sheltered Area

To keep the mower protected from the weather, you want to find some shelter for it. For a lot of people, this is probably going to be down the side of the house where the soffit of the roof protects it. Now, this is a good location, as long as the mower isn’t left where the rainwater or snow is going to fall on it. A side porch or lean-to are ideal spots if you have them on your property.

While storing your mower under the trees might seem like a good idea, a lot of trees don’t keep their leaves throughout the year, so they lose their ability to shade and protect the mower from the weather. Additionally, many of them drop branches when windy, and animals living in them can leave droppings, which isn’t good for the mower.

High Ground

Standing water is the main thing you want to avoid when storing your mower outside. Rust is a mower’s number one enemy, and the last thing you want to do is leave your lawn mower standing in a puddle for an extended period of time. So, if you have found a spot in the yard that you think is ideal for storing the mower, then it would be a good idea to check it when it’s raining to make sure it hasn’t collected a puddle. My best advice is to choose an area in the yard considered “high ground” that will help keep the mower out of any puddles.

Protecting the Lawn Mower

After selecting an ideal spot in the yard, you next want to consider the best way to physically protect your lawn mower. By this, I mean what extra steps can you take to protect your lawn mower over and above where you choose to store it outside. So, let’s look at what additional steps you should take to keep your mower in good condition while it is stored outside.

Covering the Lawn Mower

Covering the lawn mower is essential if you choose to store your mower outside. This is also true if you decide to store a riding lawn mower outside. Don’t worry; you don’t need anything fancy that will break the bank. You just need a waterproof cover to keep the moisture and sun out.

For example, a tarp from the box store will do just fine. It would also be a good idea to grab some bungees to hold the tarp in place for those windy days.

Prevent Collecting Water

If you have gone the tarp route, you’ll want to make sure that the tarp can’t collect water. If you leave the tarp with a dip in it, then water will pool. If it rains or snows long enough, you could end up with a lot of weight on top of your lawn mower. The weight will not only pull the tarp off the mower but can also easily break something on it.

Lubricating the Mower

Whenever I have left a lawn mower outside for a long period, I have always made sure that I give all the metal parts some extra protection. This can include making sure all the joints are greased up, and the metal surfaces get a good spray of a lubricant like WD-40. Your biggest concern when storing your mower outside is going to be moisture and rust.

Check the Lawn Mower

Once you have worked out where to store the lawn mower outside and how to keep it protected, the last thing you’ll need to do is check on the mower periodically. Try to get into a routine of checking on the mower every few weeks.

I especially suggest checking on it after heavy weather. From time to time, you may need to remove some snow or bail out some pooled water. Additionally, you’ll find that you can make adjustments to reduce how the weather affects the mower. For example, sliding the mower over a foot or two may stop the rain from collecting on the tarp or the snow from settling on the mower.