Preparing Winter Defenses for Your Garden Equipment
Storing your garden tools properly over winter is essential to ensure they are in good condition when you need them again next spring. Here are some tips to help you preserve your tools and keep them functioning optimally.
Firstly, it's important to store garden tools in a dry place to prevent mildew, splinters, and premature wear-down of wooden handles. A dry storage area will help keep your tools in top shape.
When it comes to fuel storage, using a fuel stabilizer in the remaining gas can help prevent it from gumming up inside. This simple step can make a big difference in the performance of your power equipment come spring.
There's no explicit endorsement from German companies or organizations for using sand in a bucket for storing garden tool handles over winter. However, storing tools in a bucket filled with sand mixed with multi-purpose oil or a mixture of WD40 and linseed oil can help preserve them over winter. The sand should be moistened with the oil, but not so much that it becomes clay-like. Tools should be stored metal-ends down in the sand-filled bucket.
For fertilizer and weed killer bags, storing them in resealable bags and containers, and vacuuming out all the air, can help preserve their effectiveness.
Before storing your tools for winter, it's crucial to clean them thoroughly. Use a coarse metal brush, sandpaper, and a dry rag to remove rust, dirt, and splinters. Wipe them clean and apply oil to wooden handles in a warm place to allow the oil to penetrate the wood and dry quickly. Plant-based oils such as boiled coconut, linseed, or walnut oil are good choices for this purpose.
Lastly, greasing all joints on power equipment ensures they are ready to use next season. Changing the oil in power equipment (mowers, tractors, trimmers) before storing for winter is important to prevent difficulties in starting the engine post-winter. Letting the engine run for at least 15 minutes before changing the oil helps heat up leftover sludge.
Wiping down the tools with an oiled rag, using vegetable oil for less toxicity and economy, is a final step to ensure your tools are well-protected for the winter months. Follow these tips, and your garden tools will be ready for action when the weather warms up again.
