How To Keep Garden Tools In Top Shape

Growing Tips: Sonoma County Master Gardeners

Q: What do I need to do to keep my gardening equipment in good shape and ready for spring?

A: Winter is a great time of year to take care of your garden tools. With gardening over and the holidays over, you have time to properly inspect, clean, protect, repair, and store your gardening tools so they're ready to use come spring when you want to get back to gardening.

Chefs constantly maintain and sharpen their knives so they work faster, cut cleaner, prevent hand and finger injuries, and last longer. The same goes for gardening tools.

Sharp gardening tools make the best cuts in the leaves, allowing the plant tissue to heal properly. The smooth cut of the blade means less twisting on the hands, wrists and forearms. Clean equipment helps prevent the transmission of plant diseases. Maintenance tools will last longer and be safer to use if they operate easily. Good service protects your equipment investment.

Remember 3S.

The three Ss of garden tool care are cleaning, sharpening and sanitizing, then lubricating. As you go through these steps, check for missing or broken parts, check the attachment points of the tool head and tighten them if they are loose. Be careful not to overtighten or you may break the tool head. Make sure the handles are secure and free from broken pieces.

Cleaning: Hand tools such as herbicides, pruners, shovels, rakes and saws should first be thoroughly cleaned of sand and debris and then dried. Scrub with soap, water and a soft sponge.

Sharpening: Use a flat file, whetstone or flat file to sharpen flat blades. Using a vise to hold the tool will make sharpening easier and safer. Take sharp tools, such as pruners, to a professional for sharpening.

Disinfection: Use an alcohol wipe or disinfectant to disinfect. For example, the active ingredient lysol is less corrosive to metals than a bleach solution.

Lubrication: Lubricate the blades or metal parts with non-toxic oil to prevent rust. You can "butter" small hand tools. Fill the sock with sand or cotton. Tie a knot and brush with vegetable oil. Vegetable oils are less toxic to the garden than crude oils. Rub the sock along the tool to apply the oil. Store your socks in a zip-top plastic bag.

Finally, inspect the wooden handles and replace them if they are broken or cracked. To tidy up wooden handles and prevent tools like shovels, forks, and picks from breaking, sand them lightly with medium-grit sandpaper and use a poultice such as boiled linseed oil. For a complete cure, apply generously, leave for 15 minutes and remove the excess with a dry cloth. Carefully read and follow the directions for using linseed oil, as used rags can catch fire if stored or disposed of improperly. Wear gloves to protect your hands. Nitrile coated gloves offer superior oil protection and can be hand or machine washed and line dried.

Store the tools in a dry, covered place and hang the tools to protect the sharp blades. It's important to keep your tools as dry as possible, so don't let them touch the ground where they can get wet and rust. Ideally, your warehouse would be a large dry shed or garage.

Consulting for power tools

Driven equipment such as petrol strimmers, chainsaws and lawn mowers take longer to winter.

Start by cleaning your equipment of dirt and dust. Drain the fuel and run the tool briefly to ensure the tank is dry. Drain the used engine oil and top up with fresh oil so that the engine is not dry for the winter. Dispose of fuel and oil in accordance with local regulations.

Remove the spark plugs, clean the glass and position it to prevent debris from entering the combustion chamber. Check all filters and replace if necessary. Ideally, store your tools on a sturdy wall or shelf.

If your tool is electric, remove the battery, clean the terminals with baking soda paste and a brush, and charge the battery.

This is also a good time to check your garden hose for leaks and connections that may need a new washer. Your car may need air in the tires, new doorknobs, or both.

Now that your tools are in order, you can't wait to hop into your spring garden with some new tools.

Information about gardening and tool care can be found in the Gardening Tips section of the Sonoma County Gardener's website at sonomamg.ucanr.edu.

This week's columnists were Fay Mark, Tim Coyne and Rob Williams. The UC Sonoma County Master Gardener Program (sonomamg.ucanr.edu) provides Sonoma County gardeners with evidence-based information about sustainable gardening. Send your gardening questions to scmgpd@gmail.com. You will find answers to your questions in this newspaper or at our help desk. You may contact the Information Department directly at 707-565-2608 or email mgsonoma@ucanr.edu.