Just for info if you have a carb with a priming bulb...
If you just run the engine until it runs out of petrol, you will retain petrol in the primer bulb, primer non return valve, the suction tube and the return line.
If you want to completely drain the carb of fuel, run the engine until out of fuel, then hook the fuel feed line out of the petrol tank ( it's the long one with a tubular filter on the end), so it's hanging right out of the fuel tank (I use a bent piece of coat hanger). Then pump the primer bulb until it runs dry, you will be pulling the last bits of fuel out of the carb and back into the petrol tank. Then drain the petrol tank.
If you have a lot of fuel in the tank, you can just start the engine, get it running smoothly, stop the engine, then hook the fuel feed line out of the petrol tank, start the engine until it runs out of petrol, then pump the primer bulb until it runs dry, then drain the tank. This second method has the engine running while the top is off the petrol tank and is not recommended, Mind you, neither is drinking so much your legs stop working properly, and I've done that a few times and lived...
On a two stroke I would also take the spark plug off, tiny drop of two stroke oil into the cylinder and a couple of slow pulls on the starter cord. Then put the plug back in. I was told that when you run a two stroke dry, you starve the upper cylinder of lubrication. I can't see that would really be a problem over the winter but now it's a habit.
I'd second the vote for using petrol preserver. Expensive but worth it.