Garden equipment and tools storage

Accurately storing garden tools helps keep them in good working order and saves you time locating them. A 3x6 foot tool box can handle a large amount of equipment.

Because tools are generally stored in places with no light and are often not cleaned after use, rust is the main enemy.

One way to protect against rust is to keep vulnerable tools out of the air when not in use by storing them in a sandbox saturated with crankcase oil. Avoid having so much oil that it makes tools greasy and unwieldy, and don't put working parts of tools, such as pivoting part of scissors, in the sand.

garden hose

The garden hose is often poorly maintained. In addition to using a reel, you can preserve the life of your hose by not letting it kink as water runs through it. Do not leave it in the summer sun (especially if it is a plastic hose). Loosely roll it onto your spool or rack made in your garage's exposed truss. A makeshift reel can be made from reels of wooden cable or TV wire.

Tools should be cleaned immediately after use, while the soil is still damp. Use emery cloth, a wire brush, or steel wool. Rub with crankcase oil. Keep your wood handles sanded and preserve the wood with linseed oil.

Sharpen the hoes with an 8-inch grinder file, stroking toward the cutting edge, but do not sharpen the digging tools too hard as thin they cut easily. Apply your file to only one side of the sickle, keeping the lower edge flat.

Mechanical sprinklers should be washed with clean water and soda after each use, and the nozzle should be examined for sand particles. Clean the rubber hose of the sprayer with vinegar and the shower, and the nozzle with kerosene. Grease the leather piston washer after use to prevent the leather from drying out.

Mechanical sprinkler

Plan to have your drying patio and utility area out of sight but close enough to the house so you don't feel disturbed. Protect these areas with shrubs or fences. The service area should include propagation beds, cold frames, a tool shed or storage closet, and your compost pit, if you have one.

Warm beds and cold frames should be located in a place where they are protected from north and northwest winds. Be careful not to place your cold frame in a damp location unless you've completely drained it with drain tiles first.