Tools

Choosing garden tools - can be confusing

Many choices

New tools, gadgets every year

All promise easier gardening

Selecting

What kind of gardening do you do?

How much time do you spend gardening?

Large or small garden plot?

Turf grass? How much?

Primarily ornamental plants, fruits, vegetables?

Selecting

Shrubs, trees?

Lots of houseplants?

Do you compost?

Price

Always purchase highest quality tools you can afford

Cheap tools don’t last

Spend more replacing than purchasing high qualityto begin with

Selection

Plenty of odd tools out there

Garden Bandit – The Garden Room Dual Blade Hoe

Care

Proper care of tools ensures long life

Big investment – take care of them

Cleaning

After every use, spray off with water to remove potential corrosives, dirt

If necessary, lightly scrub with wire brush

Set tools out to dry before storing

Cleaning

Can use rag soaked in olive or canola oil to wipe them clean

Clean power tools every week - lawn mower, tiller

Use wire brush, wash occasionally, dry thoroughly before storing

Maintenance

After cleaning pruners, loppers, oil moving parts

Maintenance

Keep wooden handles oiled to avoid splinters

Clean handles with water, let them dry

Apply coat of linseed oil

Regularly sharpen tools with blades

Maintenance

Edges of hoes, shovels, trowels wear down with use, become less effective

Clean tools, sharpen edges with file

Keep bevel as even as possible

Maintenance

Throughout gardening season, check tools for problems

Sand splinters, oil

Check for loose handles - can use epoxy to glue

If handle breaks, replace handle instead of discarding tool – much less expensive; bring tool to garden store for fitting and replacement

Check for loose bolts, rust

Power tools – READ THE MANUAL

Oil, air filter changes

Maintenance

Storage

Storage

Always store tools off ground

Keep in clean, dry place

Store hand tools in covered

bucket

Tool organizers attached wall

Preparing for winter storage

Don’t stash - corrosion , other damage during hibernation

Take time to prepare for storage so they’ll last and be ready for next year

Winter storage

Clean, oil

Check for damage, repair if necessary

Sharpen

Remove rust

Winter storage

Drain hoses before freeze

Store fertilizers, pesticides, other products indoors

Power tools – drain gas, sharpen blades

Store tools on storage rack, in bucket