Content
11 September
Storing Garden Tools
for Winter
As autumn approaches and signs of those long nights are slowly
creeping in, your time in the garden becomes less and less, and so do the
maintenance and garden jobs. So if you’re thinking about how to store your
tools at the end of the season, then you’re in the right place.
Having a tool shed or garden
building to store your tools is essential, as your tools need to be dry to
be in the best condition for next year.
Blades
Before you store anything, sharpen or replace blades on
tools that cut or dig. Filing can easily sharpen any tools that have worn down
over time. Use a medium grit sharpening stone to hone and maintain the sharp
edge of any cutting tool. For faster cutting, wet the stone with water or
honing oil. Don’t attempt to sharpen a trimmer or any other tool with a
serrated blade.
Most digging tools aren’t sold sharpened, so you should
sharpen them from the start. File the working edge to a 45 degree bevel with a
course file.
Rub the blade with a wire brush to remove any rust, and wipe
down the metal with light oil to prevent corrosion.
Handles
Check your tools’ handles for splinters or cracks. Smooth
handles with a medium grit emery cloth (emery cloth doesn’t tear as easily as
sandpaper). Wipe a dry handle with linseed oil to rejuvenate and protect the
wood over the winter.
If your handle is broken, then you should always replace it.
Maintaining your
Lawnmower
If your mower is petrol, then make sure it’s out of fuel by
running it until it runs out and the motor stops. Change the oil and remove the
spark plugs and change them if necessary. Clean the engine and the frame of the
mower, using a scraper to remove any built up grass and dirt on the underside
of the motor.
If you have an electric mower, unplug it before you start
any cleaning.
Check the condition of the blade and if it needs sharpening,
use a heavy file to remove dull edges or you can simply replace it.
Storing Your Hose
Make sure that any shutoff valves or spray nozzles are
detached from the hose and stored inside. Drain out your hose, roll it up and
store inside. Cold hoses can be stiff and difficult to use, so if you can,
store somewhere warm.
Organising Your Tool
Shed
There are lots of different ways that you can organise
your shed, but as long as you can find everything you need and it’s in a
good condition when you do, then you can organise it however you like.
