The end of the growing season can be both rewarding and sad. All your hard work has resulted in a beautiful garden and maybe vegetables, herbs, and fruits that you can enjoy in the months ahead. Now that winter is here, you need to prepare your gardening tools for the next season.
How do you know which tools need maintenance? The answer is easy. Any tool that has nuts & bolts, screws, blades or chains will need some cleaning and sharpening. This includes but isn’t limited to, reel mowers, hedge shears, pruners, loppers, and axes.
Five Steps in Maintenance of Hand Tools
Clean
The first step in getting tools ready for the winter is to clean them thoroughly. Most tools have low-friction coating that helps prevent rust and buildup of sap or other substances. This coating makes cleaning a simple task. Soap and water will effectively clean the tools.
Dry
Dry the tools carefully to prevent moisture build-up which can cause tools to rust.
Sharpen
It’s now time to sharpen the blade. Most quality tools are made from hardened steel, which allows the blades to slice through materials all season long and stay sharper longer. Even so, sharpening blades at the end of each season will ensure the longevity of tools. Flat files are excellent for sharpening the blades on these tools. Make sure when sharpening to do so at the same angle as the blade, and if there are any cuts or notches on the blade, take extra care to file those out as well.
Oil
Use WD40, machine oil, or grease to wipe down or spray all the joints and blades. This seals the blades during the winter and adds another protection against rust. Be sure to refer to the manual for each tool to check which parts need oiling.
Tighten
Finally, make sure all tool bolts and screws are tight.
Preparing Power Equipment for Winter
When winterizing gas power tools, there are two options. You may drain the gasoline from the engines or add a stabilizer to the gas. Read the equipment manual to learn if gas is meant to be drained or stabilized. Many equipment manuals are available online at the dealer’s website.
When using the stabilizer, follow the instructions on the container. In most cases, it requires that you fill the tank. Then, operate the machine as instructed to circulate the gasoline mixture into the fuel lines and carburetor. Two-cycle engines already have stabilizers added to the gasoline/oil mixture. You may also add a few drops of oil to the spark plug port to provide further protection in winter.
When preparing to winterize your lawn equipment, take the time to remove dirt and grass from the mower’s deck and sharpen the blades. It may be a good time to change the engine oil and change or clean the filters. Disconnect batteries to prevent corrosion and clean the terminals. Electric and gas-powered string trimmers should be cleaned as well. Check the line and replace it if needed for next year. Also, clean the string head and sharpen the string-cutting blade if necessary. For gas-powered trimmers, turn on and allow the gas to run out before storing.
Locate your power tools in a cool, dry place for winter. Keep them out of direct sunlight. Find a spot in a building or garage where they will be conveniently out of the way if possible.
Store the disconnected batteries from mowers or other battery-operated tools in a cool, dry place.
Additional information can be found at:
UGA Extension Publication – Garden Tool Maintenance – Before You Store!
The author of this article, Phillip Prichard, is a Paulding UGA Extension Master Gardener, trained to provide education for homeowners on horticulture, sustainable landscaping, and environmentally friendly gardening practices using unbiased, research-based information from the University of Georgia. For more information, contact Paulding County UGA Extension at 770-443-7616 or view our online resources at www.ugaextension.org/paulding.
