Tips for Storing Garden Tools

Storing garden tools properly is the key to maintaining their effectiveness in the years ahead.  Improperly stored tools quickly rust or have wooden handles that dry out and crack.  Basic maintenance after each use will allow you to get the best return on the investment you make in quality garden tools.  These 7 tips for storing garden tools will keep them in tip-top shape all season and for years to come.

1.  Remove dirt from the tools before storing.  A sturdy wire brush is very useful for this purpose.  If you’ve been working in clay and it has dried on your shovel or trowel, you may want to soak the tool in a bucket of water for 10 minutes to soften the clay for easier removal.  When you are done wire-brushing your tools, hose the dirt off the tool and out of the wire brush.  Shake the water out of the brush.  You may also want to spray the wires with penetrating oil to keep them from rusting as quickly. 

2. Dry your metal tools with a cloth rag or paper toweling to prevent rusting, once you have cleaned them.  For long-term storage, spray the metal parts with penetrating oil.  Keep in mind that even a perfectly dry steel tool can rust over the winter from humidity if not treated. 

3. If your tools do rust, you have options.  If the rust is on a shovel blade or hoe tine, the rust will likely come off with use.  If it is on a spot that doesn’t contact the dirt, use steel wool or sand paper made for metal to remove it.  Treat the tool with penetrating oil or paint it with rust-inhibiting paint.

4. Sharpen any tools that require it.  Have a sharpening file or whet stone available for this purpose and follow directions for proper sharpening.  Treat your sharpened pruner, hatchet, limb knife or saw with oil to protect it.

5. Condition wooden handles by rubbing linseed oil into them or spreading wax paste over them.  This is a matter of preference.  If you use leather gardening gloves, you’ll get a good grip with either material.  If you prefer cloth gloves you may find that a waxed handle is too slippery.  Many gardeners overlook this step and then have to replace their handles prematurely when they crack or cause splinters.

6. Store your gardening gloves in a closed container.  This prevents bugs from crawling into them and giving you a bite, a sting or a terrific start next time you put them on. 

7. If your budget allows, a garden shed for your tools, outfitted with tool racks, is a wonderful asset.  If you store your tools in a garage or barn, have a few racks or tool caddies that are just for your garden tools.  You know what they say: A place for everything, and everything in its place! 

Well-maintained and properly stored tools last much longer.  They also become reliable friends we look forward to using in our garden work.  Plan just a few minutes at the end of each gardening session to care for these friends and they will serve you well for many years.