Just the other day , I was pushing hard to end up some fence fix before the first snowstorm of the time of year . Using a garden tractor , I drive a gravid wagonload of supplies out to the website . The snow get in while I was working , and by the time I ’d finished there was almost an inch of snow on the ground .
Suffice to say , my garden tractor was unprepared for the sudden change in condition . On the fashion back to the barnyard , it set out slipping and sliding on a modest uphill gradient .
In the terminal , I had to unplug the wagon to get my tractor back to the garage . All I could retrieve was,“Why did n’t I start preparing for winter sooner ? ”
In my defence , wintertime struck early this year , and with shocking abruptness . One week temperatures were warm and conditions were ironic . The next week , a gelidity filled the air . Weather forecasts call for snowstorm every other day into the foreseeable future .
Such occurrence reiterate the importance of preparing your farm for wintertime well in onward motion of the first snowfall . Here are four reasons why early prep beats belated prep every metre .
Read more : Here are 4 types of tractor you should see for your farm .
1. The Arrival of Winter Is Unpredictable
Officially , wintertime begin on Dec. 21 . But seasonal atmospheric condition shifts rarely abide by astronomical definitions .
Up on my northern Wisconsin farm , winter arrive somewhere between the middle of October and the middle of November . If you ’re lucky , snow hold off as late as potential and you gain an extra month of quality work weather .
But you decidedly ca n’t count on it . So it ’s better to have critical pre - winter tasks complete well in onward motion of potential snow .
2. Simple Tasks Are Harder in Cold Weather
Every year , I wrap the tree trunk of my young yield Sir Herbert Beerbohm Tree with plastic and material tree guards to protect them from athirst rodents .
Installing the guards ( and tip / tying them in place ) is almost impossible when wearing bulkywinter gloves . So I endeavor to polish off a fine line between wrapping the bole after the growing season is over , but before frigid weather and snow set in .
I want to be capable to take my glove off without risking frostbite !
Read more : Check out these tips for enduring arctic , subzero temperature .
3. Unprepared Equipment Leads to Struggles
The incident with my fight garden tractor is just one example of how equipment can be caught unprepared for the sudden onset of wintertime weather condition . At the beginning of fall , you should start ready your tools and machines for the coming snow time of year .
Just for appetizer , switch the mower deck of cards on your garden tractor for asnow blowerattachment . Or do annual maintenance on your standalone snow cetacean .
Go forwards and install tire strand on tractors , and a plough on your farm motortruck . Gather up deal tools like snow shovels , digging bars , etc . to deal with nose candy and ice .
Park seasonal equipment like hay balers and wagons in protect placeswhere they wo n’t be problematic through winter or other spring .
The goal is to head off waking up one morning to discover a foot of snow on the ground while your spadeful are trap in a toolhouse and your Baron Snow of Leicester cetacean call for new spark plugs . That ’s just postulate for a thought-provoking day .
4. Frozen Ground Makes Some Projects Impossible
Have you ever tried to substitute a broken fencing military post when the ground is frozen ? I hope not , because it falls somewhere between difficult and inconceivable .
Even if you bring off to pull the C. W. Post ( a feat in and of itself ! ) , find oneself enough loose grunge to backfill around the replacement Wiley Post will be a challenge . Any task that ask shifting dirt around ( replacing fence military post , digging compost , grading a driveway , etc . ) should be make out well before freezing temperature locate in .
Once you ’re done prepare your farm for wintertime , you’re able to sit back and “ let it snow , allow it snow , permit it lead by the nose ” without vexation .
