During the winter, we don't get to spend as much time in the garden. So why not spend some quality time with the garden tools instead?

First, see if you have any tools that really should be replaced--and replace them.

Thoroughly clean your tools and store those you won't be using again until next year.

Remove any rust on metal portions with a wire brush and wipe with a oily rag (a general-purpose oil will do). For wood handles, use boiled linseed oil.

Winter is a great time to get all those dull blades resharpened, too--don't forget the lawn mower!

Store the tools you won't be using till spring in a protected area, and your winter tool care will keep them as good as new for next spring and summer

For every gardener there is a task that feels more like a chore. Maybe tending to garden pruners is yours. A good pair of pruners fits your hand comfortably, and takes care of a wide range of gardening jobs, from snipping off spent stems to cutting roses for an indoor display, to trimming a favorite shrub. But for many of us, it simply seems easier to replace our pruning tools each year rather than sharpen them. How often have you found yourself going from garden center to garden center, or wasting hours on the internet trying to find the exact same tool that you bought last year that was perfect for you? That costly and inefficient habit is easily broken once you’ve mastered the fine art of sharpening. Simply follow the easy instructions by clicking on the link below, and you'll find that your time can be better spent planting something beautiful!