Maintain your garden tools

During the cooler months, basic upkeep is one task that’s on a lot of gardeners minds. There’s a little more free time, so it is a very good time to make sure your garden tools are in tip-top shape. Keeping your tools clean and working correctly saves you time and money. Well-kept tools work better, last longer, and save you a trip to the store for new gear. Following are some basic tips.

Before care comes choosing the correct tools in the first place. A cheap watering can may not hinder your garden much, but bad pruning tools, for example, can seriously cost you time. With this in mind, make note of the tools you need and use the most and spend more on quality tools. Better gardening tools really do pay for themselves in the long run by staying sharper, handling better, and so on.

Keep up on sharpening. Sharp tools only work if you keep them sharpened. It’s also healthier for your garden as a sharp tool cuts cleaner. Be sure to always wear gloves when sharpening garden tools.

Clean your tools. Technically you should clean your garden tools after each use, to prevent spread of spores and plant diseases, but if you’ve been slacking, now is a great time to catch up. You can use super hot water and soap to clear visible gunk, then wipe any bladed tools down with rubbing alcohol. Apply an oil mix that prevents rust. Store them inside or in an enclosed garden chest.

Spiffy up the wheel barrel or wagon. If you use one of these items to haul plants, soil, and other garden gear around, clean it well now. The tires, handles, tray, and underneath all need a good soap and water cleaning. Check over all nuts and screws to be sure they’re tight and not rusty. Use a bicycle tire pump to pump up the tires a bit. Store it inside for the winter. IF you have to store it outside place it upside down to keep it a little cleaner.

Don’t forget your shovel and rake. The shovel and rake, and other long tools are larger than many tools, so they often sits in a different place. BUT the shank of your shovel or rake or so on may be hiding all sorts of gunk (including diseases). Use hot water and a stiff brush to get your tool super clean.

[image via stock.xchng]