The expert gave advice on preparing the suburban area for the cold

In autumn, the summer cottage season is coming to an end, but the work on the site is not over yet. Neglecting autumn work, summer residents risk encountering a number of problems: from frozen fruit trees to out-of-order gardening equipment. Alexander Galkin, STARWIND Product Director, in an interview with Izvestia on August 27, highlighted the key types of gardening that need to be done before the onset of cold weather.

According to the expert, one of the key stages of preparation is pruning trees. This procedure makes it easier for plants to tolerate frosts and promotes their healthy development in the next season. Dry, damaged and diseased branches should be removed — this will help reduce the risk of spreading infections and pests that can weaken the tree. Pruning is recommended after the foliage falls, but before the onset of stable frosts.

"For most gardening work with pruning of live branches, an electric saw with a capacity of 1.5–2 kW or a gasoline model with a 3-3.5 hp engine is enough. Electric saws with adjustable chain speed are great for spot pruning, while gasoline saws are better able to handle dry and thick branches," Galkin said.

The specialist stressed that excessive power of the saw is not always justified: too powerful a tool can be heavy and inconvenient to use. The ergonomics of the saw also plays an important role: the comfortable handle and the well-thought-out arrangement of the controls reduce the risk of accidental injury.

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An equally important step is to prepare the soil for the next season. Autumn cultivation will greatly facilitate your work in the spring. The soil prepared in autumn warms up faster, aerates better and requires less effort during pre-sowing, which allows you to start planting earlier. In addition, autumn treatment helps to get rid of weeds and pests that can survive the winter and harm your crops in the spring.

The expert added that you should not forget about gardening equipment: before conservation until next season, it must be thoroughly cleaned of soil and plant debris, and the cutting and rotating metal elements should be coated with a thin layer of oil or special lubricant to protect them from corrosion. He also advised the owners of country houses to store the equipment in a dry, ventilated room with a positive temperature, where it will be protected from humidity and temperature fluctuations.

"For gasoline gardening equipment, preparation begins with the complete draining of fuel, as it loses its properties over the winter and forms tarry deposits that clog the fuel system. Then it is necessary to start the engine idling in order to burn out possible fuel residues in the carburetor," Galkin said.

In addition, the expert advised to prepare in advance a list of spare parts and consumables for purchase in the off-season. This will help to avoid unnecessary expenses and save time in the spring, when the equipment will be needed again at the beginning of the season.

On July 23, Andrey Tumanov, chairman of the Moscow Horticultural Union NGO, said that physical labor in the countryside helps to improve health and prolong life. In his opinion, growing plants is not as easy as it seems, and due to erroneous recommendations, yields in dachas have noticeably decreased.

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