Winter isn’t known as a time for growing but it does offer time to get prepared for next year.  If I’ve learnt anything about gardening its the more prepared you are, the easier things will be.  So this week I have been spending some time in my shed making sure my tools are ready for when I call on them in January.

First to receive my attention is my hand tools.  I’ve really not looked after them over the years and they are covered with rust.  I also have a habit of holding on to tools which should have been binned a years ago.  The result is a rusty pile of small garden shears, a collection of hand forks and spades.  A quick and effective cull means I now have just 2 of each hand tool.   wire brush to knock off the rust, some WD40 and a light coat of oil later and I am a proud owner of some good looking hand tools.

My large tools recieve similar attention before moving to cleaning up my petrol lawnmower and strimmer. The lawnmower needed a bit a of attention. The last time it was used it hit a piece of metal which loosened the cutting blade. A wuick tighten later and it is back to normal. Both the mower and strimmer have caked on grass from cutting the lawn this year which I remove before returning them to the shed ready for next spring.