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Ensure top performance and longevity from you garden tools by properly caring for and storing them. Use winter as the ideal time to maintain tools for use in the next gardening season.

As winter approaches and your garden tasks wind down, the time is right to maintain, repair and store garden tools.

After extensive use in the garden, most tools will benefit from a thorough cleaning and sharpening so they will last longer and perform better.

Include hand tools and power tools in your winter care routine. Frequently used tools will need the most attention, although proper cleaning and storage of items used infrequently is also a good practice.

Secateurs, loppers, shovels, rakes, saws, hoes, forks, weeders, lawn mowers, chainsaws and whipper-snippers are just some of the tools that benefit from winter care.

Care includes cleaning, sharpening, repairing and storing tools so they will remain in top shape and be easy to find when gardening activities pick up in spring.

Clean metal surfaces to remove rust and debris, and wipe down all plastic and painted parts on power and hand tools. File blades on hand or power tools to remove nicks. Sharpen edges using a whetstone or file.

Inspect tools for broken or missing parts and replace as necessary. Often, simply replacing a cracked or worn handle gives new life to favorite, old tools.

For power tools, prepare the motor for winter by draining fluids, replacing oil, and inspecting for loose bolts or missing parts.

Proper storage of your newly cared for tools is a must for safety purposes as well as convenience. Hang small hand tools on an out-of-the-way rack or pegboard and use hooks for long-handled devices. Store motor-driven equipment out of the weather in a shed or under cover.

To prepare your power tools for storage you will need:
Steel wool and/or wire brush
Cleaning solvent
Rags
Wrench
Hand file
Screwdriver
Engine oil
Household oil.

1. Disconnect wire to spark plug for safety and drain engine petrol and oil. Dispose of fluids properly. Take the spark plug to a service station to have it tested and cleaned. Testing will determine if it is in good shape or if it needs replacing.

2. Clean all surfaces, especially the underside and blade housing, using steel wool, a wire brush or, on painted or plastic surfaces a rag with cleaning solvent.

3. Sharpen blades using a smoother, upward stroke with a file. Check to see that all bolts are tight and replace any missing parts.

4. Refill the crankcase with clean engine oil and lubricate and oil all moving parts, using a lightweight household oil. Store indoors.

To prepare hand tools for storage you will need:
Steel wool
Mineral or linseed oil
Whetstone

1. Use steel wool to clean the blade thoroughly and to help with the removal of any debris and rust.

2. If handles are rough, sand first then rub a mixture of half linseed and half mineral oil into them. Let the oil solution penetrate and wipe off any excess.

3. Sharpen the blades using a whetstone soaked in oil to produce a fine, sharp edge. Hang the tool to store.

Learn more about this author, Janette Peel.
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