Winter still does not give up, but the weather forecasts were finally optimistic. From mid-week, temperatures are expected to be positive, but only for the day. There will still be frost at night. However, we can already start preparing to start gardening. Let’s use the last cold days for the maintenance of gardening equipment and tools and to buy used or missing. The condition of tools is often underestimated, especially by amateur gardeners. Experience teaches us how important it is for the health of our plants, not to mention the comfort of work and the costs associated with the replacement of neglected devices.

Cleaning tools

The basis is thorough cleaning of the tools. If we did not do it before winter, then now we will have more difficult – the remains of plants and soil will certainly dry up or become moldy and now they will not be easy to remove, and the rusting of metal elements will also accelerate. Rust is a great danger to our plants. Before using the tools, clean them thoroughly from rust. We do it with a wire brush or wire and water. After cleaning, we must thoroughly dry our tools. Remember that you should not use rust-removing and protective preparations that can be toxic to plants. We can protect the tools with a thin layer of vegetable food oil, which we apply with a brush. We prevent rust by storing tools in a dry room.

Before proceeding to pruning trees and shrubs, we must carefully sharpen our tools. The blunt pruning shears will damage the pruned tips of the branches, which can harm the plant, leading to the death of individual branches and in extreme cases even the entire plant. It is also good to lubricate the moving parts of our tools to make the work easier and more enjoyable. Here, too, we must remember to use substances that are safe for plants, or use lubricants where they will not come in contact with plants. Electric or combustion devices also require inspection or servicing. We can do it ourselves or use the services of professionals, especially for devices that require repair.

Combustion and electric devices

Both the combustion and electric devices must be carefully inspected and assessed their general condition. Let’s check that all the screws are overclocked. For grass mowers, sharpen the cutting knives. This has a very significant impact on the efficiency of the device and its life, as well as on the health of our lawn. If we notice that the knives have been damaged, e.g. cracked or deformed, we must replace them, as they may fall off during work and hurt us. We proceed in a similar way with a saw or other cutting devices. For saws, also check the condition of the chain lubrication oil. Oil must be changed in combustion equipment. Oils used in gardening equipment are not as durable as car oils and quickly lose their usability, we should change them every six months – even if we didn’t use the device. We should also remember to use the right types of oil, because they differ in properties, and using the wrong ones can damage the device.  Combustion devices also require care for the air filter – we should clean it, and if it is in poor condition, it should be replaced. The condition of the filter should be checked regularly, a dirty filter reduces power and significantly reduces engine life. Spark plugs are another element to check. Before the new gardening season it is good to replace them, especially in devices that we often use, such as a petrol lawn mower.

Thanks to careful inspections, our tools will serve us longer, their work will be more efficient, and thus our work in the garden will become even more pleasant.