Lawn Mower Storage Ideas For Riding & Normal Mowers

If you’ve had a lawn mower for some time, you’ll know that in order to keep it in excellent working condition, proper storage is vital. Whether you’re experienced or a novice, some ideas and handy information on how best to store different types of mowers will not go amiss!

It doesn’t matter whether you’ve got a riding lawn mower or a normal lawn mower, both types require high quality care to remain at their peak. Aside from cleaning, regular maintenance, and timely blade sharpening, correct storage is the best way to ensure your mower stays pristine for as long as possible.

Due to the disparity in size between the two main categories, riding mowers and pushing mowers will require different storage solutions. There will be similarities that span the requirements of both types of mower, but it’s the differences that are likely to have the biggest impact.

You also need to consider the weather fluctuations where you live as well as some other factors which we will also explore. After all, you want to keep your lawn mower safe and secure as well as dry and clean.

From DIY options to solutions you may already have in your home, let’s get into it!

Storage Ideas for Normal Mowers

Because normal, pushing mowers are smaller and more compact than riding mowers, logic states that they should be easier to store and in many ways, this is true! Most people with gardens have these kinds of mowers and most will already have a place where they store them.

You might even find yourself in this category too but if you’ve found yourself on this page, you’re probably looking for a new or better idea than whatever you’re doing at the moment. Below you’ll find some top ideas for storing your normal mower:

Garden Shed

At this point, you might be rolling your eyes thinking “a garden shed? I didn’t need an article to tell me that!” and you’re probably right. However, as popular as sheds are amongst the British population, not all sheds are created equal.

You might already have your mower stored in a shed but is it appropriate for your mower? When thinking about sheds for lawn mower storage, there are a few factors to consider including:

• Is it spacious enough to allow me to reach all sides of my mower and manoeuvre it safely?
• Is it uncluttered? Objects falling off shelves or spades falling over from leaning on a wall can damage your mower.
• Is it dry? Any holes, warped boards, cracked windows, or rotting wood can let moisture in which can lead to rust and other issues for your lawn mower.
• Is the floor stable and durable? Lawn mowers are fairly heavy so you’ll want a shed with a sturdy floor that will be able to take the weight for years to come.

If you aren’t sure about some of the answers to these questions, then it might be time to invest in a new shed. You can either opt for a prefabricated one or, if you’re handy with a set of tools and have time to spare, you can DIY!

(image of a nice garden shed)

Outdoor Locker

A smaller alternative to a full-on shed if space in your garden is limited is an outdoor locker or large cabinet-style box which you can either build yourself or buy premade.

This sort of storage locker would probably only have enough room for the lawn mower, depending on the size you got or built, but even so, it would be a neat little space you could lock up securely and would be suitably water and weather resistant.

(image of large outdoor locker)

Ramp-to-Shelf

If you’ve got a spacious shed or garage with some free room, you could always consider building a ramp for your lawn mower leading up to a custom-made shelf where it could perch off the floor and out of the way.

On a shelf rather than on the floor, your lawn mower would be protected from water puddles and spillages, and would not take up any valuable floor space. This in turn would leave you space for other things or for moving around yourself more freely (honestly, how many times have you tripped over or kicked parts of your lawn mower before?).

(image of a mower ramp/shelf)

Hanging Storage with Pulley System

If you’re feeling adventurous and ready to take on some hardcore DIY (or better yet, pay a professional to come in and do it for you), some hanging storage could be a great space-saver!

Using a system of several pulleys, carabiners, sturdy metal hooks and some durable ropes, you could fashion a hoist for your lawn mower so that it can be lifted towards the ceiling of your garage and out of the way.

This type of storage solution is not for the faint hearted and is probably not appropriate for someone with no building or DIY experience – if you get any part of it wrong, you could risk your lawn mower falling to the ground and smashing, which no one wants!

(close-up of a pulley)

Storage Ideas for Riding Lawn Mowers

The Old Shed Again

Just like the regular pushing mower, a riding mower can also be stored in a classic shed. This is probably an obvious option to you but consider the shed-related questions listed above with even more thought than you did for the pushing mower.

Riding mowers are obviously larger and heavier than pushing mowers so if you’re going the shed route, you’ll need to ensure that not only is the shed waterproof and lockable, but also incredibly sturdy as well as spacious enough to easily manoeuvre and park your riding mower.

Again, appropriately sized sheds can be built or bought – it all depends on your budget, skillset, resources, and available time.

Garage or Car Port

If you’re lucky enough to have a garage or car port, then I’ve got good news for you: you’re basically sorted! Garages are safe and secure, and generally cleaner and drier than the average shed, and because they’re more permanent structures, they’re more weather-proof too.

If you haven’t got a full garage but have a car port that you don’t use or don’t use all of, then why not park your riding mower underneath it? If it’s not very protected, you might have to think about putting some plastic siding or blinds down the open sides in order to ensure your mower stays dry.

This will also add an extra layer of security away from prying eyes.

(image of a garage)

Tent or Tarp

Depending on the layout of your garden and how much available space there is, a good alternative to a more permanent structure like a garage or large shed is a tent or tarp. There are so many garden tents on the market that are made from weather-proof material and are more than large enough to fit your riding mower inside.

These tents are a cost effective and space-saving solution as they are relatively inexpensive and can be put up or down very quickly if needed. The only drawback is that they’re likely to catch the wind in bad weather, but you can always weigh down the edges with bricks or attach extra guy ropes to keep it secure.

Likewise, a tarp that fits snugly over your riding mower is a compact and cheap storage solution if space and budget are limited. You could even get a tarp cover with draw-strings around one edge so that you can tighten and secure the tarp around the bottom of your mower.

Tarps are not the best option for weather resistance or keeping dry however, as the open bottom leaves space for moisture to get in. neither tents or tarps are the most secure solutions either as they’re difficult to lock and easily ripped.

(image of a garden storage tent or covered lawn mower)

Whatever Your Mower, Whatever Your Storage…

Make sure whatever solution you decide on is going to meet these simple criteria:

• Will it keep your mower from freezing in the winter?
• Will it provide a cool, shaded space during the peak of summer heat?
• Will it be easy to get your lawn mower in and out of?
• Will your mower be protected from weather and being stolen?
• Will it last you a good amount of time before requiring fixing or replacing?
• Is it a budget-friendly option or are you stretching your credit card unreasonably far?
• If you choose a DIY option, are you realistically capable of building it properly?

If you can answer “yes” to all or most of these questions then you’re probably good to go!

In Conclusion

Hopefully after reading this far, you’ve found a storage solution you feel will be appropriate for you, your garden, and your lawn mower. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got a normal pushing mower or a riding mower, the key things you want in terms of storage are security, weatherproofing, and sufficient space.

If you can get these things within a reasonable budget, that’s ideal, and if you can’t then it’s probably worth considering storage an investment (within reason – don’t rack up too much debt over this!) as hopefully, any solution you go for will be with you for years to come.