Why You Need To Clean Your Gardening Tools During Fall
As the growing season winds down, it might be tempting to toss your tools in the shed and forget about them until spring, but fall is actually the best time to give your gardening tools the attention they need. Clean tools last longer, work better, and help prevent the spread of plant disease. Here’s how and why to give them a good fall cleanup before storing them away for winter.
Tools Hold More Than Dirt
That dried mud on your shovel or pruners isn't just unsightly, it can hold bacteria, fungi, and pests from your garden. When left over winter, these contaminants can settle into metal and spread disease next season. A good scrub now keeps problems like that from spreading later, especially since one plant disease in early spring can wreck your garden for the whole season.
Rusting
Metal parts left dirty and damp through fall and winter will almost certainly rust, and once rust starts, the lifespan of that tool is immediately shortened. It also makes it harder for that tool to actually do its purpose, to get a clean cut or dig into the soil. When cleaning your tools, wipe down metal surfaces after cleaning and dry them well. A light coat of oil can be added for extra protection, too. If you leave rust to grow, you're more likely to be replacing tools in the spring.
Wooden Handles
Wooden handles are easy to forget in the cleaning process, but they take a beating during the growing season. Dirt, moisture, and sun exposure all wear them down. Splinters and cracks can form if they're not maintained, immediately making them tougher to work with. A quick sanding and a layer of linseed oil can smooth things out and keep the wood from drying out over the colder months. Clean, conditioned handles last longer and are much safer on your hands.
Keeping Things Sharp
Cutting tools like pruners, shears, and loppers get dull over time. Dull tools tear rather than cut, which stresses your plants and makes them more at risk for wilting or disease. Fall is a good time to sharpen everything while you're not in a rush to use it. A small sharpening stone or file should do the job. Keep blades clean and sharp now so you're not scrambling to fix them next spring.
Check for Damage
Fall cleanup is the best time to take a close look at each tool. Check for loose screws, cracked handles, and bent metal so they can all be fixed now with simple repairs. If something's beyond repair, it’s better to know before you need it again. Replacing parts or tools over the winter also gives you time to shop smart instead of rushing in spring.
Store Them Correctly
Once clean, dry, and repaired, tools should be stored properly. Hang them if you can, or at least keep them off the ground somehow to prevent moisture damage. Keep sharp edges away from where hands or feet might accidentally find them. Avoid storing them in piles, as tools tossed together often damage one another and create rusty spots. Organized storage makes everything easier to find come spring and keeps them in better shape for longer.
Taking time in the fall to care for your tools might feel like a chore now, but it sets you up for an easier, cleaner start in spring. You'll avoid rust, reduce the chances of garden disease, and save yourself from last-minute repairs. Clean tools are also much safer and more effective, meaning it helps you as much as it helps your garden.