Winterize Your Garden Tools: Easy Maintenance for Longer Life

Don't just shove tools in the shed! A little fall effort extends tool life and makes spring gardening more enjoyable.

Shovels, Rakes, Spades

• Clean all dirt off blades and handles.
• Sharpen shovel blades (whetstone or hardware store). Sharp tools make planting effortless.
• Sand wooden handles, rub with linseed oil.
• Oil metal parts or store in sand+oil bucket to prevent rust. Dry storage.

Hand Tools

Treat trowels like large tools. Clean and oil pruners.

Lawn Mowers

• Service before storage, or DIY: drain gas (or run dry), clean blades, oil with linseed oil.
• Hang grass catchers away from moisture to prevent rot.

Other Power Tools (Trimmers, Edgers)

• Brush clean, drain gas, remove spark plugs.

Easy maintenance = first-robin gardening instead of tool shopping!