From the ground up: Tool tips for winter storage

The last bulb is planted and the last plants are dug, right? It's time to think about giving your garden tools a well-deserved winter vacation. The best way to keep tools happy is to care for them throughout the year, but if you're like me, sometimes a dirty spade is propped against a wall or sappy pruning shears don't get cleaned.

A simple cleaning with soap and water to remove residue and dirt can keep your tools useful for years ahead. If necessary, use a fine scrubber to get off tough sap and dirt. Do that before you proceed with winter storage.

To store hand tools, fill an old pot or bucket (big enough to hold several tools) with dry sand. Mix in lubricating oil, like WD-40 or even vegetable oil. Add enough so the sand is thoroughly moist.

Gather up your tools, and scrape off any remaining dirt. Plunge your tools into the sandy mix. Put the bucket of tools in a cool, dry place for winter storage. Take care of those wooden handles, too. Rub any wooden surfaces with linseed oil to keep them from cracking or splitting. Once Spring rolls around again, you can keep the bucket of sand for quick cleanups throughout the growing season and keep the linseed oil handy for touch-ups as needed.

Once you clean your wooden handles, make sure you handle the linseed oil-soaked cloth properly. Let it dry completely in a well-ventilated space and don't put it in a closed container if there's a combustion risk. When disposing of a used rag, soak it thoroughly in water, let it dry, and then put it in the trash.

In the spring, take out the tools and wipe them down with a coarse cloth, like burlap. Check the closure of your shears and pruners, and if needed, add a drop of all-purpose lubricant on the pivot point. That's the time to sharpen the blades.

For winter storage of bigger tools (like shovels), clean them with soap and water and wipe down their handles with linseed oil. Keep the tools indoors, and hang them up, don't rest them on the garage floor. Even if it's concrete, there still is moisture there, and that can cause rusting and other problems.

Take a bit of time now to put away your tools for winter and those tools will be around next year - and many years thereafter.

For answers to your garden questions, call the Linn County Extension Hortline at (319) 447-0647.

' Jean Wilson is a Linn County Master Gardener.