We have summarized everything that needs to be done with the lawn mower so that it is ready to go again next spring in a short guide for you. We know from our own experience that it is far from enough to simply rely on a long-term guarantee, such as that brand manufacturers sometimes give for their secateurs.
How to properly maintain garden tools?
To properly maintain garden tools, clean them thoroughly with a wire brush, mineral spirits and water, oil metal parts and joints, sharpen blades with a whetstone or angle grinder, check handles and replace worn parts, and store them in a dry place and frost-free.
Especially after the season, these often heavily used garden helpers require a little more work so that they are ready for use again next spring. Sending shovels, spades and hoes to the winter quarters with cooking oil and sand is a somewhat unusual but very effective constellation.
Safe wintering in the sand?
After use, none of our garden tools should be left uncleaned. Before you store them in a dry and airy place in the shed for several months, clean the pruning shears, pickaxe, folding saw, etc. thoroughly again with a wire brush, alcohol and plenty of water. If you want to do it particularly thoroughly, you will need oil-soaked sand and a larger bucket into which the metal parts of the garden tools can simply be placed. This means they are cleaned, perfectly greased and have little tendency to corrode. The cooking oil-sand mixture can then easily be disposed of in the compost.
Getting garden shears ready for the winter
High-quality hand or pruning shears can be completely dismantled relatively easily, which requires very little time and is definitely worth it. Before storing it, it is particularly important to carefully remove the remaining garden soil and rust from the blades. This work is done very easily by working with steel wool previously soaked in spirit and then sharpening it with a whetstone. Now all you have to do is rub all the joints and springs of the scissors with an oil rag and then tighten all screw connections during assembly.
Say goodbye to lawn rakes, spades etc
It also applies to the robust garden tools with handles that they go into their winter quarters cleanly cleaned. After soil residues have been removed and traces of rust removed with a wire brush and steel wool, the metal parts can be rubbed with a washing preserver, similar to that used on cars, to protect against corrosion. If the leaves are processed with a bench grinder or angle grinder beforehand, they will stay nice and sharp until next spring. Take this opportunity to check that all handles are firmly seated and replace any worn parts straight away.
Water hoses like it lying down
Plastic hoses are among the garden utensils that are particularly sensitive to frost and, when filled with residual water, can take even slightly sub-zero temperatures very seriously. After it has been completely emptied, store your garden hose simply, but without twisting or kinks, horizontally on the floor of the shed, where you have previously rolled it up in a circle. Defective areas can be cut out straight away and reassembled at the ends using tubular straps or cuffs.
