Looking after your garden tools in winter

Winter can seem like a bit of a quiet time in the garden “ but a keen gardeners job is never done!

A good gardener is only as good as their tools, and in this guide, we take a look at some of the things you can be doing now to keep them in tip top condition and ensure that theyre all ready for spring.

Power tools

Whilst you wont have the opportunity to use your power tools much during the winter months, its a good time to do some essential maintenance ready for the year ahead.

Start with your electric tools “ check the flex for wear, and if there are any cuts or exposed wires, then have the flex replaced or professionally repaired. Then, check the plug for any damage, and replace it if there are any problems.

With your petrol tools, its best to drain the fuel out of them over the winter, as unleaded fuel loses its ignitability over time.

To protect the blades from rust damage, its a good idea to treat them to a light coat of general-purpose oil. Make sure you treat the whole blade, getting into all the hard to reach areas.

Cleaning, Sharpening and Oiling

Over time, your garden tools will start to lose their edge, and become blunt. Secateurs, loppers, shears, spades and trowels all work better when the blades are sharp, and winter is a great time to bring them back to their best before the new growing season.

Start by thoroughly cleaning the blades - remove any caked on mud or dirt, and allow the blades to dry. Next, youll want to tackle any rust, using a wire brush to carefully remove it, before rubbing the blade down with some general-purpose oil.

When it comes to the sharpening itself, you have a few options. For very blunt tools and large cutting blades, you may want to start by using a fine metal file, before finishing the job on a sharpening stone.

For your smaller hand tools, you can use a sharpening stone, but youll probably find it easier to use something like this Draper T.C.T Multi Sharpener, which comes with a handy compartment for oil storage in the handle.

Speaking of handles “ winter is also a good time to oil any wooden tool handles with boiled linseed oil, which will prevent them from splitting and extend their lifespan.

Lawnmowers

Theres little worse than getting your lawnmower out for the first cut of the year, and finding out its not working “ here are a few things you can do to ensure that it doesnt happen to you.

• Isolate - Run down the fuel, and disconnect the spark plug lead
• Clean “ turn the mower over, and remove all the grass and dirt from the blades, grass box and rollers
• Oil and grease “ oil the blades and apply a bit of grease to the height adjustors to ensure that they dont rust or seize up
• Sharpen “ if your blades look past their best, then have them sharpened professionally, or replace them with new ones
• Change the oil “ oil is vital for any petrol mower to operate effectively, so change it, and top it up ready for spring

Replacing tools

However well you look after your garden tools, eventually, youll need to replace them “ and thats where we come in.

Head over to the Keen Gardener store, and youll find a full range of garden tools to meet every budget and requirement, all at unbeatable prices.