Wendy's Wanderings
January 9, 2024
Straight Talk from the She Shed
The seed catalogs and garden websites are asking, “Are you ready for Spring?” when here in Florida we know it is just a few moments away. Now as Florida gardeners, I know you are ready, but are the tools in the shed good to go for a busy gardening season? It is time to go through the shed or garage and take stock of your tools and equipment. Remove any old tools that are beyond repair or that you don’t use. Then really inspect the tools that you do have and take the time to do a little maintenance on them so they will continue to serve you throughout the year.
Shovels, hoes, and rakes
Begin by cleaning all residue and soil off the metal by using a wire brush. Once the tools are clean, wipe them down with a cloth and WD-40. If there is rust on your metal tools soak them in white vinegar for a couple of hours to release the rust. Inspect the wooden handles of your equipment. Look for splinters and sand down with sandpaper as needed. Then rub the wooden handles with an oil like linseed oil to keep the wood from drying out. For a quick, easy way to store spades and trowels, fill a bucket halfway with sand and some oil. Store the blade of the tools in this bucket to prevent rust and to keep the tools looking new. When you remove a tool from the sand wipe it clean with a cloth.
Pruners and shears
Spray WD-40 at the joints of pruners and check the blades. Clean the blades with alcohol to remove any lingering sap. Once the blades are clean, sharpen them with a whetstone or a file. Some local small-equipment repair shops offer pruner and hedger sharpening if you need help with that sharp edge. Lower-quality pruners don’t sharpen up well, which makes a good case for purchasing high-quality tools.
Power equipment
For your lawnmower, edger, and string trimmer, a good tune up is needed annually. Good care will extend the life of the equipment. An annual service would include changing the oil, spark plugs, and filters, as well as sharpening the blades. Your blades should be kept sharpened throughout the year. If you have battery-powered equipment, give the tools a good cleaning to have them ready to go when you need them. I am planning to set up an official charging station for all my tool batteries.
Flowerpots and seed trays
If you hold on to pots and seed trays, it is recommended that you clean them before reuse. Cleaning the containers will prevent diseases and get rid of soil hanging around from last season. First remove any soil and plant materials, then prepare a solution of nine parts hot water and one part bleach in a large tub. Using a stiff brush, clean off the pots and trays in the solution. If they are especially cruddy you can let them soak in the solution for 20 minutes. Then rinse the pots and trays thoroughly to remove all bleach.
A well-spent morning maintaining your tools and equipment will save you money and time. You will have more time in the garden and less time running to the garden center for replacements.
-- Wendy Wilber