by Denise Lunsford
All summer I’ve enjoyed walking around and tending my little garden. In late summer, though, I find I need to take a short rest and spend time preparing for the fall chores that go along with putting the garden to rest.
There are so many wonderful Garden Shed articles about the tasks to attend in the coming season (see links at the end of this article), I didn’t feel I could really add to or expand on that information. However, all those tasks require use of my many hand tools. It is usually this time of year, after several months of spring and summer garden activity, when I realize those tools are scattered and in need of attention. A little bit of organization, cleaning, and maintenance can assure that everything is in top shape to tackle my fall planting and cleanup chores.
Gather The Troops
If you tend to work gardening into a busy schedule, you may find your tools have “migrated” to various places around your house, garden, and shed. Before getting into cleaning and maintenance, take the time to round up everything and make sure each tool has a proper storage place.
Wood and metal, used in most garden tools, should not be continually exposed to the elements. Dampness, soil, and rust result in deterioration, so tools should be stored in a clean and dry place such as a shed, garage, or dry basement. Consider adding hanging racks for shovels, rakes, and other long handled tools. Hand tools can be stored on pegboards or shelves.
Check It Out
Inspect all your tools to determine condition. In particular, look for rough or splintered wood handles, knicks or divots in blades, loose or wobbly motion in pruners, dull edges, and loose parts. This will help determine the specific maintenance each tool needs and whether replacing parts is necessary.
Having your tools all in one place and evaluating their condition with the summer gardening season in mind will also help you decide if you need additional tools.
Squeaky Clean
Ideally, you should clean and disinfect your tools after each use to prevent the spread of disease and avoid rust and deterioration. Most of us are not perfect, however, and now is a good time to catch up on what might have been ignored this summer.
Remove soil and debris with a bristle brush or abrasive pad and scrub the tool with soap and water or wipe with a damp cloth. Remove rust with steel wool or a wire brush. A tool with significant rust may require soaking in a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water for a few hours or overnight (depending on the amount of rust) then scrubbing with steel wool.
After cleaning, wipe tools dry being sure they are completely dry before storing. When thoroughly dry, wipe the metal part of tools with a light coating of oil.
Sanitize your tools before and after pruning each plant with alcohol wipes or disinfectant spray. Again, make sure they are dry before storing.
Sharp As A Tack
Dull pruners can damage plants and are unsafe (not to mention frustrating) to use. Tools last longer when sharpened the old-fashioned way with a file or whetstone. Plus, sharpening is very satisfying. Sharpen pruners at the angle of the blade paying special attention to any nicks or notches. This article has a video with detailed instructions for sharpening pruning tools. www.mastergardenersd.org/Garden Tool Care
If your pruner blades are sharp but still don’t cut well, they may be out of alignment. Check for loose parts or a space between the blades. To adjust the blades, search online for instructions from the manufacturer of your pruners or from other trusted sources. This article also provides good general alignment instructions: oregonstate.edu/gardentoolscare.pdf
Although shovels and hoes don’t need to be as sharp as pruners or knives, those that are very dull, nicked, or with folded metal can be sharpened at a 45-degree angle with a file or coarse sharpening stone.
After sharpening or adjusting, apply a light coating of oil to the metal parts. A few drops of oil or greaseless lubricant at pivot points of pruners will keep them moving well.
Handle It Right
Wooden handles can become rough, crack, or break with use. Sand rough spots to prevent splinters. After sanding, wipe the handle with a cloth slightly moistened with linseed or mineral oil.
You may be able to repair cracked handles depending on the extent of the damage and how the tool is used. For example, a hand trowel handle might be repaired with wood glue, epoxy, or strong tape. A cracked shovel or rake handle will likely need replacing. Replace broken handles or those cracked beyond repair instead of tossing out the entire tool. Handles are available at most hardware or home improvement stores and can be fastened on after removing all the wood from the broken handle. There are many helpful websites with videos or instructions on repair and replacement.
Identity Crisis
If you loan tools or work in a common garden area, remember to label your tools in some way. Labeling can be as simple as writing your name with a sharpie or painting part of the handle with a strip of bright paint. It is also a good idea to use bright paint on handles or attach a bright ribbon or cloth so you can more easily see your tools in the garden.
Maintain to Sustain
Once you have everything repaired, clean, and in top shape, try to establish a regular maintenance routine.
After each use, collect all tools, remove soil and sap, and wipe with a damp cloth. Air dry or wipe dry with a cloth. Disinfect pruners and other tools used on or near diseased plants. Wipe wooden handles and metal parts with a light coating of oil. Address any nicks, loose parts, or other problems when they happen. Return everything to its proper storage area so you can locate tools easily the next time you garden.
Consider keeping a bucket with a sand and oil mixture in your storage area for tool maintenance. Partially fill a 5-gallon bucket with sand and thoroughly moisten with linseed or mineral oil. You may want to mix a little at a time, so the sand is moist with oil throughout. Plunge metal tools such as shovels, forks, trowels, or knives in the mixture a few times and wipe with a cloth. The sand helps clean the tool and the oil coating aids in preventing rust.
Add To Your Arsenal
Now that your tools are in good condition and properly stored, think about your gardening chores this past spring and summer. Maybe you have everything you need and are good to go. That’s great! Just in case, though, I obtained a couple of new garden tools in the last year which I have found to be very helpful in my small garden area.
Last year one of my children gifted me a hori hori knife, a heavy-duty gardening knife with one serrated edge and one smooth, sharp edge. I love it and it has become my go-to, favorite tool. I do use it to cut open mulch bags and plant containers, but it is so much more than a knife. I use it for almost everything including weeding, digging, dividing plants, and planting.
Also very handy is a small hand-held hoe. Mine is about 16 inches long with a wooden handle and a blade that curves slightly to the left (I am right-handed). This tool is very helpful for weeding areas that are more difficult to reach by hand or with the hori hori knife.
Just this week I ordered a 6-inch chain saw – I can’t wait to use it. I have a small yard and garden and no real need for a full-size tool, but there is a very annoying hedge of privet and small trees that is entirely out of hand. My neighbor and I agreed to heavily cut it back and I used that as an excuse for the chain saw. It is battery-operated, was reasonably priced, and should be more than sufficient for this job.
Do Your Chores
Finally, I should mention that there are very good Garden Shed articles about end of summer and early fall garden care. Following are a few favorites.
https://piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/august-in-the-ornamental-garden-6/
https://piedmontmastergardeners.org/article/september-in-the-ornamental-garden-2/
SOURCES
Featured Photo: Dereckson, Garden tools rack (ii), https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Care and Maintenance of Garden Tools, https://extension.oregonstate.edu/sites/extd8/files/documents/12281/gardentoolscare.pdf
November Tips: Tools and Equipment,
Tips for Garden Tool Maintenance and Care,
https://skagitmg.org/tool-maintenance/
Garden Tool Care,
https://www.mastergardenersd.org/garden-tool-care/