For those of us who ditched our tools in the shed and walked away last fall there’s likely more than a little dried soil and rust stuck to the blades. Both professionals and amateurs tend to feel exhausted at the end of a long growing season. Hightailing it inside to warm up and rest weary muscles sounds so much better than cleaning tools! So, if that was the case for you, now is the time to take the proper precautions to ensure your tools are clean and in good working order to keep plants and gardens healthy and beautiful.
Clean Tools, Happy Garden
Cleaning gardening tools can prevent rust, keep edges sharper, and remove pathogens. If you already cleaned and sharpened in the fall – I’m impressed! Just give your tools a quick wipe down with disinfectant. For the rest of us, grab a hose, a wire brush, a putty knife and some steel wool.
Spray your tools down with the hose first. Scrub away any remaining dirt until the surface is clean before disinfecting. If there’s still stubborn grime caked on the blade, use a putty knife to scrape it off. And, if there’s rust, give those areas a good rub with steel wool. Finally, remove any sap with GooGone or lighter fluid.
Now that your tools look clean, it’s time to disinfect to eliminate any bacteria, fungus or viruses that are still hoping to hitch a ride. You’ll want to disinfect at the beginning of the season and immediately after your tools come into contact with a diseased plant.
