Share 8 Tips for Storing Garden Tools Properly During Winter
If you’re a keen gardener or allotmenteer, having a good set of well-functioning tools is a must. And it’s likely that if you enjoy working your outdoor spaces you’ll have invested in a good quality set. Garden hand tools will last a lifetime if properly maintained, especially if they’re well prepared for storage in an unheated garage, tool shed or greenhouse during the winter.
Topics
- Cleaning Your Garden Hand Tools
- Rust Removal
- Sharpening Blades
- Sterilising Your Garden Tools
- Lubricating Moving Parts
- Caring for Wooden Handles
- Storing Handheld Power Tools
- Garden Hand Tool Storage Ideas
Introduction
As winter sets in, work on your garden or allotment is usually paused for a few chilly months, so you won’t be using your garden tools. Given that, it's important to thoroughly prepare your garden hand tools for storage so they’ll remain in optimum condition during potentially freezing and damp conditions. This will ensure they’re ready for action when spring comes around again. Properly storing your garden tools will maintain their effectiveness and improve their durability over the years.
Let’s begin with the most straightforward thing you can do to help maintain your garden hand tools: giving them a good clean.
1. Cleaning Your Garden Hand Tools
Begin by removing obvious soil and plant debris from blades, forks and other metal parts. These residues can retain moisture, leading to rust. Use a putty knife or stiff wire brush to clean loose grime – a garden hose can help wash off clumped dirt.
Next, soak your tools in a bowl or bucket of warm water with a mild detergent, using a softer brush to give the surfaces a good scrub, paying special attention to joints and seams where dirt can accumulate.
For tools with stubborn sap, consider using a citrus-based cleaner or dedicated plant resin remover spray to help dissolve heavier residue deposits, particularly on secateurs, shears, loppers etc.
Thoroughly rinse and dry your tools immediately after cleaning to prevent rust formation or tarnishing while in storage.
2. Rust Removal
Even with regular cleaning, rust can occasionally appear on metal surfaces and components. But don’t worry, it’s easy to remove – stainless steel tools of course won't rust.
With a medium-grit sandpaper, wet and dry, steel wool or a smaller wire brush, scrub lightly rusted areas. With more extensive rusting, soak the tool overnight in white vinegar, which will help dissolve encrusted rust. Then scrub again with sandpaper or a wire brush. You could also use a dedicated rust removal gel for particularly stubborn rusting.
Protective Oil Coating
When your rust-free tools are clean and dry, apply an even coating of light oil, such as camellia oil or rust prevention spray, on all metal parts. Use a rag to spread a thin layer of oil, ensuring metal surfaces are completely covered to create a barrier against moisture.
3. Sharpening Blades
Keeping hand tool blades sharp is a must, and sharpening them at the end of the season will mean they’ll be ready to go when spring comes.
For tools like gardening scissors, pruners, hori horis, shears and loppers, use a hand-held sharpening stone or dedicated sharpening tool. For serrated blades you can use a small round file. For example, take a look at this video for an example of how to sharpen garden shear blades.
Before you begin sharpening your blade, make sure it’s spotlessly clean. A scouring block such as a crean mate is ideal for this, to almost polish the blade so you can more easily see any faults or nicks.
As with cleaning the metal surfaces of your tools, you should apply a small amount of oil to blades after sharpening, to prevent moisture building up and rusting while in storage.
4. Sterilising Your Garden Tools
It's important to sterilise your garden tools. Doing so will help prevent fungi or bacteria from spreading between your beds and generally around your garden, especially with propagation tools.
After thoroughly cleaning, you can sterilise your tools by either mixing your own bleach solution (10%) or buy a high alcohol solution. Use a spray to liberally apply the sterilisation solution. Be sure to rinse and dry thoroughly.
5. Lubricate Moving Parts
While garden tools that cut, like shears and loppers etc., are being cleaned and prepared for winter storage, it's a good idea to lubricate the centre bolt mechanism. This will give them a free and smooth action, and ensure they won't seize up while stored in winter conditions.
Take your tool apart. This might need a screwdriver or spanner, although your tool may have a thumb screw or other easy release mechanism. Clean all moving parts thoroughly.
Then use a light oil such as WD40 or 3-in-one to lubricate the mechanism, but be careful not to over-oil moving parts as excess oil can collect dirt and grime particles causing unnecessary wear.
6. Caring for Wooden Handles
Wooden tool handles will wear with use. They could also potentially dry and crack, particularly in freezing winter conditions.
Begin by looking for rough patches or splinters in the wood. Use fine-grit sandpaper to smooth out these worn spots.
To revive the wood, apply boiled linseed oil liberally with a clean rag, allowing it to soak into the wood. Multiple coats of oil can be applied for a more durable finish, with each layer needing proper drying time to maximize absorption – give the oil at least 24-hours per coat to do its work.
Linseed oil will rejuvenate wood tool handles, making them more resistant to winter’s freezing temperatures and moisture changes while in storage.
7. Storing Handheld Power Tools
Power tools such as hedge trimmers, strimmers, power shears and chain saws should be cleaned and have their batteries removed – always replace the battery cover to stop dirt or dust getting into the battery slot.
While power tools can be stored in the shed or garage along with your manual tools, batteries should be brought indoors over the winter as they really don't like freezing and damp conditions.
Also, garden tool batteries should not be left to run down to zero, so a few times during the winter, give the battery a booster charge. Running down to nothing will significantly reduce a battery's ability to hold a charge, meaning your tool will need charging more often and the life of the battery could be compromised.
8. Garden Hand Tool Storage Ideas
It’s worth considering where and how you store garden tools. There are a variety of options, for manual tools and handheld powered tools. Let's overview some of them for inspiration, beginning with wall storage.
Wall-Mounted Racks and Pegboards
Wall mounting provides an excellent way to organise tools, keeping them accessible and off the floor. Hanging tools such as spades, pitch forks, rakes and hoes on tool hooks or racks prevents them from contacting potentially damp surfaces, reducing the risk of rust and deterioration.
Tool Hangers and Storage Bags
For smaller tools like trowels, secateurs or hori horis use hangers or bags to keep them neatly sorted and protected. Utility hanging hooks and elephant hooks are an easy DIY way to wall hang tools. As are screw hooks for smaller items.
Storage bags with compartments help prevent tools from knocking against each other and help keep out the cold and damp.
Toolboxes and Storage Cabinets
Use these for storing small tools and attachments, protecting them from dust and moisture over the winter months. Look for garden tool storage boxes with customisable compartments, which cater to different tool shapes and sizes, protecting your smaller tools from impact and making it easier to move them around while in storage.
Custom Shelving and Enclosures
If your budget can accommodate it, why not design custom shelving units. Shelving ensures tools are stored securely, preventing knocks and scrapes that can lead to damage. Enclosures in your storage area with doors and drawers add an extra layer of protection against dust and moisture, crucial for more susceptible items like handheld power tools.
Moisture Management
If necessary, use climate-control to help manage moisture levels in your storage area. Consider dehumidifiers on timer switches. And definitely use desiccants or silica gel packs in with your stored tools to absorb excess moisture, reducing the risk of rust or mildew.
Outdoor Tool Storage
If you don’t have a garage, shed or greenhouse to store your garden tools, think about secure outdoor storage solutions such as storage chests or a garden tool storage box. Outdoor tool storage boxes can offer extra storage space too if your main storage area has limited space.
Image Creadit: Habitat
Equipe larger tools with protective covers that guard against environmental factors. Ensure your storage outdoor area is secure against rodents and pests by sealing entry points and using deterrents, as these can cause damage through gnawing or nesting behaviours.
Final Thoughts
As we've seen, when you store garden tools and gardening equipment over the winter it's important to take action to ensure that they will be in tip top working order for spring.
Taking the time to protect tools, and outdoor equipment, against freezing and damp weather. And doing regular maintenance throughout the year also means they'll last a lot longer, whether stored in your shed, garage or other outdoor space.
For more garden related articles, and other DIY and how-to guides, visit the Hiatt Hardware Blog.
