How to Care for Garden Tools Before Putting Them Away for the Winter
By the time I finish my fall cleaning and am ready to put away my tools for the winter, I am exhausted. The idea of spending time cleaning these tools seems like an insult, but I do it anyway. You may be tempted to do some maintenance in the spring, but by then the damage may be irreparable. Take the time now and spring will be much more enjoyable when your tools come out of the shed ready to go.
Hand tools must be clean and dry.
A lot of hand tools—shovels, spades, rakes, weeding tools, and anything else with a handle—should be washed until all the dirt is gone, then dried. Drying is especially important because it prevents rust from occurring. Rust is the enemy, and tools stuck in a winter closet with dirt will deteriorate faster. If there is already rust, it is worth removing it with steel wool. I recommend a steel wool attachment for your electric drill. This allows you to quickly deal with the problem and not get your hands dirty.
Also inspect the wooden handles. If they’re particularly rough, you might consider sanding them down, but I generally find that time smoothes the wood, not the other way around. The wood should be cleaned and quickly rubbed with a small amount of wood oil such as linseed . If the wooden handle is cracked, it should be replaced.
If the tool in question needs sharpening, such as an axe, do it now. A local knife sharpener can sharpen your ax, but there are tools and tutorials to help you learn how to do it yourself. Don’t underestimate the importance of sharpening your shovel tips. Next spring it will cut through the lawn and dirt. Your scissors, loppers and other pruning tools should be sharpened now before they go into storage.
The best solution for storing these long-handled tools is to keep them off the ground in a covered and secure area, such as a shed. Hanging racks make this task easier.
Repeat all these steps using hand tools: trowels, scoops, weeding tools, etc. Make sure the metal is clean and dry and the handles are in good condition. These tools should also be stored above the ground; for the winter I simply put them in a box.
Do not store power tools with batteries.
Most people now have a selection of power tools: electric drills, hedge trimmers, chainsaws, leaf blowers and trimmers. First, make sure all tools are clean. Make sure there is no grass or other organic debris on the tools. If your instruments have a lot of connecting parts, like string trimmers, take them apart and clean them, otherwise you’ll have to spend a lot of time replacing your string spool next spring. Empty the blow bag and make sure it’s dry so it doesn’t get mildew over the winter (I go to the trouble of washing and drying it). If the tool in question, such as a chainsaw, has tire oil, drain it over the winter to prevent it from leaking. Remove all batteries from tools and store them separately, away from chargers. These tools should also be stored off the ground; To do this I use a set of large utility hooks . This works very well, but make sure they are well secured to the studs.
Gas tools require the most work
If you’re still using a gas-powered lawn mower, chainsaw, trimmer or leaf blower, maintenance may have you considering a replacement.
The game is the same: clear everything. This means turning the mower over and essentially removing all the grass. Otherwise it will rust. Now is the time to sharpen your blade. Make sure your trimmer or leaf blower is also clean, and then it’s time to drain all the gas. You don’t want it to sit full all winter. As an alternative, you can add a fuel stabilizer , but I never risk it. Cover all your tools with appropriate covers or tarps and store them in a dry and safe place in your shed or garage.
Smart tools need care too
On top of everything else, we now have smart tools in our yards, be it birdhouses, weather stations or temperature sensors. You should check the product website for the temperature tolerances of the device; if you think the weather will exceed its limits, bring it inside for the winter. Otherwise, clean each solar panel and make sure the screws or other fastenings are tight enough to withstand high winds.