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
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