Growing Tips: Sonoma County Master Gardeners
Q: What should I do to keep my garden tools looking good and ready for spring?
Answer: Winter is the best time of year to give your garden tools some TLC. Gardening is over and the holidays are over, which gives you time to inspect, clean, store, repair and store your gardening tools so they're ready for spring when you want to get back in the garden.
Chefs regularly maintain and sharpen their knives so they work faster, cut cleaner, prevent hand and finger injuries, and last longer. The same goes for garden tools.
Sharp garden tools cut leaves better, allowing plant tissue to heal properly. A smoother blade cut means less strain on your hands, wrists and arms. Clean equipment helps prevent plant diseases. Well-maintained equipment lasts longer and is easy and safe to use. Good maintenance protects your investment in your equipment.
Remember the 3s
3 S garden tool care is cleaned, sharpened and sterilized, then oiled. As you perform these steps, check for damaged or missing parts, check the connection points of the device head, and check for gaps. Be careful not to press too hard or the tool may break the head. Check the handles to make sure they are secure and free of cracks.
Washing: Hand tools such as brushes, pruners, clamps, picks and saws should first be thoroughly cleaned of sand and dirt and then dried. Scrub with soap, water and a soft scrubber.
Sharpening: To sharpen straight blades, use a flat-edged file, a wrist stone, or a bastard flat file. Using a vise to hold the tool makes sharpening easy and safe. Take tools like a pruning saw to a professional for sharpening.
Disinfectant: Use alcohol or a disinfectant wipe to disinfect. For example, the active ingredients in Lysol are more resistant to iron than peanut butter.
Lubrication: Lubricate any blades or metal parts with non-toxic oil to prevent rust. Small hand tools can be lubricated by "oil soaking". Cover the socks with sand or a lint-free cloth. Tie a knot and apply vegetable oil. Vegetable oil is less toxic than vegetable oil. Rub your sock on your device to apply the oil. Store the socks in a Ziploc plastic bag.
Finally, check the wooden handles and replace them if they are broken or cracked. To repair wooden handles and prevent splintering of tools such as shovels, picks and forks, sand lightly with fine-grit sandpaper and use a drying oil such as boiled linseed oil. For heavier treatments, apply more, leave for 15 minutes and wipe off excess with a dry cloth. Read and follow the directions for using linseed oil, as used fabric can catch fire if not stored or disposed of properly. Wear gloves to protect your hands. Nitrile coated gloves provide excellent oil protection and can be hand or machine washed and air dried.
Store your tools in a dry, covered area and hang them up to protect them from sharp blades. It's important to keep your tools as dry as possible, so don't let them touch wet or rust-prone surfaces. Ideally, your storage space is a spacious and sturdy dry shed or garage.
Power tool instructions
Power equipment such as string trimmers, chain saws and lawn mowers take longer to winterize.
Start cleaning the device from dirt and dust. Allow the unit to run briefly to drain the fuel and ensure the tank is dry. To keep the engine dry in winter, drain the old oil and fill with new oil. Dispose of fuel and oil according to local regulations.
Remove the spark plugs, remove the glass and replace them to prevent debris from entering the combustion chamber. Check all filters and replace if necessary. Hang the device on the wall or on a stable shelf.
If your devices are electric, remove the battery, clean the contacts with baking soda and a brush, and charge the battery.
This is a good time to check your garden hose drains and fittings, which may need new washers. The tires on your car may need airing, new tires, or both.
Now that your equipment is fixed, you can look forward to starting your spring garden with fresh equipment.
For information on gardening and equipment maintenance, visit the garden tips section of the Sonoma County Master Gardener website, sonomamg.ucanr.edu.
Contributing to this week's column were Fay Marks, Tim Coyne and Rob Williams. The UC Sonoma County Master Gardener Program, sonomamg.ucanr.edu, provides science-based, environmentally responsible gardening information to home gardeners in Sonoma County. Send your gardening questions to scmgpd@gmail.com. You can find answers to your questions in this newsletter or at our information desk. The information desk can be reached directly at 707-565-2608 or mgsonoma@ucanr.edu.
