How to Store and Organize Your Yard Tools so They’re Ready for Action
If you just throw your gardening tools outside by the fence, they won’t last more than a couple of seasons. Here’s how to organize and maintain your garden tools so that they’ll take care of you for years to come.
All gardening tools should be stored in a cool and dry place. Moisture is the main cause of rust and decay on your tools, but sun and heat can also cause handles to warp and crack.
Outdoor power equipment is also sensitive to weather conditions and should not be left in the sun or rain. Plastic cables and rubber grommets can fail in summer, and exposed metal and sensitive engine parts can rust and make starting difficult.
How to clean and care for your tools
Before you put away any outdoor tools, you must clean them of any dirt and lumps of dirt that trap moisture. If necessary, rinse tools and use a wire brush to clean and remove excess dirt. You can remove juice from tools with turpentine and remove rust with vinegar.
Extend the life of your wood handles by regularly applying linseed oil. This will prevent them from cracking and splitting, and protect them from water and moisture.
You can also apply flaxseed oil or WD-40 to metal tools to protect them from rusting. Apply 3-in-1 oil on the scissors and scissors axles.
How to store tools in the garage
Garages store a lot more than our cars and have effectively turned into workshops and toilets that store anything that can’t be stored indoors. Garden equipment and outdoor tools fit into this category, but you need the right way to store them so they don’t get damaged or tripped.
It’s best to keep your gardening tools off the ground, which means you’ll need to use whatever wall space you have. Most gardening tools have a hole at the end of the handle so you can slide it over a nail in a stiletto. If there is no hole, just drill it .
You can also buy clamps and brackets designed for securing tools against a wall. This garden tool hanger is only four feet long and allows you to store multiple tools on each hook. Modular systems like the Gladiator Garage (shown above) use brackets attached to wall rails, giving you much more flexibility in hanging your instruments. They also have hanging baskets that are great for storing small tools like trowels, cultivators, and pruners.
Alternatively, the video below shows a cheap and easy solution using wooden planks and nails. The nails will eventually loosen, but as a short-term solution, this will help lift your tools off the ground.
You can also use PVC pipe to create a do-it-yourself storage solution, or use a stand-up toolbox , although it will gather tools close together and take up valuable floor space.
Is there no room in the garage? Try Barn
Backyard awnings are great for keeping your garden tools in one place. Rakes and shovels stored in the garage may bump and fall on you or your car. When stored safely in a shed, gardening tools don’t get in the way, but still readily available.
There are many plans for DIY sheds online, including those from Family Handyman and Popular Mechanics . YouTube is also a great resource for building sheds, including a series of articles fromHouse-Improvements .
Home Depot and Lowe offers wood, steel, or plastic awning kits that can be installed over the weekend. They are available in a variety of sizes and price ranges.
If at your fingertips, you can find used awnings on Craigslist, but you often have to disassemble and remove them yourself.
After you build your barn, use the same hanging method to keep your yard tools off the ground. Place your barn in a location that won’t flood and consider placing it on a raised platform .