Take care of tools before storing for the winter

Many of us were still weeding and cutting back perennials when the first snowfall of the season put an end to our fall cleanup and signaled the time to put our garden tools away for the winter. To make sure they are ready for spring planting and pruning, now is the best time to give them the special care they need.

Sprayers, including the nozzles, should be rinsed thoroughly. Triple rinse your sprayers used with pesticides and, also, note which chemical was used with the sprayer. Even trace amounts of chemicals can react with another causing damage to plants. Store sprayers upside down so they drain and dry completely.

Remove and drain hoses from outside faucets. Loosely coil hoses, avoiding kinks, around a hose reel before storing them in the garage or garden shed.

Remove dried-on dirt from shovels, hoes, edgers, trowels and weeders. Soapy water and a kitchen scrub pad may be all that is needed. Use a wire brush on really dirty tools. When clean and dry, use steel wool or sandpaper to rid tools of rust.

If tools have become dull after the past season of use, sharpen them. A hand file should do the job. Finish by lightly spraying them with oil or by thrusting them up and down in a bucket of sand mixed with a cup of oil. Next, turn your attention to their handles. Wipe them with sandpaper to remove slivers before rubbing linseed oil on them. Let one coat soak in the wood completely before applying another.

A good pair of pruners is a gardener's best friend and should be treated as such. Clean them thoroughly before sharpening. With the blades pointed away from you, rub a file or sharpening stone along the original bevel of the blade until they are sharp. If the thought of sharpening your pruners is intimidating, check with your favorite local garden center. Many of them will sharpen pruners for a small fee. After sharpening, wipe the metal parts with oil to prevent rust.

Give lawn mowers a good cleaning to remove grass clippings from underneath. Sharpen the blades so they're ready to give spring lawns a clean cut. It is also advised to change the oil and replace the spark plug. Remember to empty the gas tank or add a fuel stabilizer. Or you can do as I do: have it serviced by the professionals - many offer specials in the winter.

Sort through garden gloves. If they are washable, throw them in the washing machine. The fingertips of my gloves are the first to go, and I discard pairs that have holes or show significant wear.

Make sure your tools are ready to work hard next spring. Proper maintenance extends their usefulness and we gardeners would rather spend our money on plants than replacement tools, right?

• Diana Stoll is a horticulturist and the garden center manager at The Planter's Palette, 28W571 Roosevelt Road, Winfield. Call (630) 293-1040, ext. 2, or visit planterspalette.com.