Getting read for Spring – Tool tips
While all your ideas are floating around in your head, take inventory of your gardening tools, equipment and materials and make sure you have what you need for your projects.
- Spray paint or wrap the handles of garden tools with bright fluorescent bands of colour so you can find them easily in the garden.
- Stockpile old compost sacks and pea-sticks for frost protection as described below
- A bum-bag or belt holster is ideal for keeping small tools like hand pruners ready when you need them.
- Carry a big plastic bucket to hold tools, seeds, and even your mobile phone while you're out in the garden. You can turn it upside down to make a sturdy seat.
- Store and clean your metal garden tools by filling another large plastic bucket with dry builder’s sand and pour about a half a gallon of mineral oil evenly over the top. Push your garden tools in. The sand acts as cleaner to remove debris from the tools, while the oil keeps water from damaging the metal and gives them a protective coating. Before use, just knock the tools gently against the side of the bucket to shake off the sand and you’ve got clean, rust-free tools.
- When an unexpected drop in temperatures threatens emerging plants in your garden, here are a few things you can do:
- Cover tender annuals with plastic as described above, sheets, buckets or even newspapers.
- Create tents over the plants and weigh down the corners, using pea-sticks to prop the tent up to stop it damaging the crown of the plant.
- Remove coverings the next day.
Tools photograph by Judomaster, used under a creative commons attribution licence
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