The time is up, the night is getting shorter and shorter, and winter is approaching in strides. When the last fallen leaves were raked, the lawn was trimmed, the trimmers were used up, the gardening equipment was replaced with snow shovel, and then it rusted calmly in winter. In spring, disappointment is great.

In order to enjoy your tool again in the coming year, you should clean it thoroughly and dispose of it with suitable care products before storing. At the beginning of the new gardening season, it can be annoying to stand in front of a mountain full of rusty, dull and dirty tools. Those who pay attention to the following storage tips and tricks can start gardening immediately next year!

Clean and seal shovels, shovels and multifunctional garden tools
Tools that come into contact with the soil in daily use should be thoroughly cleaned before storage. The first thing to do is to remove soil, loam and similar stains with a brush under running water. The longer you spend cleaning here, the harder your work will be.

Simple steel wool is generally sufficient to remove light rust and flash rust. However, it is best to use a wire brush to remove fresh rust or stubborn dirt. The processed metal parts are rubbed with engine oil to prevent rust in the cold season.

After cleaning and sealing the metal parts, you should look at the wooden handle of the tool. If the handle is damaged or even broken, now is the time to replace it. If the handle is in good condition and the most important thing is cleaning, wipe it with wood oil. It is best to wipe the oil with an old rag. Due to this treatment, the wood will not dry out quickly, stay smoother, and most importantly extend its shelf life.

Correct storage space for mining tools
Since shovels, shovels, rakes, picking, etc. will accumulate considerable financial value over time, it is especially important to store them properly during the cold season. If you just lean the tools against the wall, they may gradually fall over. In order to avoid this trip hazard from the beginning, there are various products on the market that simplify the organization of wall tools. The most common is the hook, which can pick up the tool on the handle and secure it firmly to the wall. As a result, these devices are safely stored and continue to provide quick access when needed.

Clean and oil branches and rose scissors
Branch scissors and rose scissors are easy to resinize, especially in the area of ​​moving parts. As long as the resin is not dry, it is still not a problem. If the resin dries in winter, the hinge will be difficult to handle in the coming year. For this reason, such equipment should be disassembled as much as possible before storage, and their resin and other impurities should be released. This is most effective for gasoline or olive oil. Now is also the right time to sharpen blunt edges or sharpen them. After cleaning, you can also apply a little oil on the metal parts to prevent rust.

Maintenance of (retractable) hedge trimmers and cordless grass shears
A man stores the hedge trimmer.
The tips of branch and rose scissors can also be used for hedge trimmers. The blade should be cleaned with a damp cloth or brush, and then oiled. The clean sword must be checked for possible damage and should be kept in a protective cover. Like all other equipment, the blade can be sharpened here.
When disassembling the electric hedge trimmer, make sure it is disconnected from the circuit.

Tips for cordless grass shears:
At the end of the gardening season, cut the grass as far as possible during cleaning to reach hard-to-reach places. It is usually sufficient to remove dirt, stubborn dirt or resin with a cloth or brush, but it is recommended to use additional cleaning oil or anti-corrosion oil. If everything is spotless, sharpen all blades and oil the moving parts.

attention! As with all other wireless tools, remove the battery and store at room temperature. Don't forget the intermediate fee! If the battery cannot be removed, the device should be stored indoors.

Storing lawn mowers and scarifiers in winter
A man removes the battery from the lawn mower.
Before bringing the lawn mower and scarifier into their respective winter areas, it is necessary to remove the attached grass and soil. Rough dirt is best scraped off with a piece of wood, and finer dirt is clean water and a suitable brush. Gasoline lawn mowers can be cleaned from the bottom with a hose. If you don't clean the lawnmower, moisture is likely to erode the paint, and in the worst case, erode the metal and rust after a period of time. When cleaning the collection basket (especially the textile basket), be sure to completely dry it after cleaning, otherwise the wet basket will form a breeding ground for harmful molds.
Go to the next spring to cut the lawn cleanly. In winter, the blades of the lawnmower should be cleaned and sanded.

attention! Check before handling the work knife:
• wear gloves?
• Electric lawn mower: Has the cable been unplugged?
• Gasoline lawn mower: spark plug disconnected?
• Cordless lawn mower: safety key off? Anyone who wants to be safe: the battery runs out!

Before final storage, the following activities are recommended for various lawn mower types:

On a gasoline lawn mower: The oil level should be correct before hibernation: change the oil if necessary, or if you don't believe yourself, ask the dealer to change it. After completing all these steps, the last important point is usually forgotten: empty the water tank. In the cold months, the residual fuel loses flammability, which may cause startup problems when it is used for the first time in the New Year. The tank can be emptied by pumping into the tank. The remaining gasoline can only be stored in special tanks! After the water tank is empty, you start the lawn mower one last time and wait for it to shut itself down. So the carburetor is empty, it can't stick anything. If you still clean the air filter, you have succeeded.

On a cordless lawn mower: Make sure that the battery is not stored in a cold environment. This generally refers to cordless tools. The battery should be removed and stored indoors at a temperature of 5-25°C. To avoid deep discharge of the battery, the battery should always be charged halfway. If the battery is low, it is recommended to charge the battery.

Sharpen and clean the chain saw
A man is grinding a saw chain.
After cutting the last tree in the fall, it's time to send the chainsaw into a well-deserved hibernation. However, in the preparation phase, it is important to disassemble and clean the chain and protective cover. It is easiest to use gasoline to remove tree resin and other dirt. After cleaning, the disassembled saw chain should be sharpened and inspected for damage. Damaged saw chains should be repaired or replaced immediately! To avoid rust, please lubricate the protective cover and chain after cleaning and installation.

For a gasoline chain saw, it is recommended to empty the fuel tank and carburetor, fill up with oil and check the spark plug. The procedure is the same as the maintenance procedure of a gasoline lawn mower. The air filter should be cleaned, checked for wear and replaced if necessary.

Garden pump and water plant
A woman dismantles a garden pump in a pond.
If you use a water pump or irrigation water supply in your garden, you must adjust it in winter. Drain the water to avoid freezing in the pump and bursting of the pump casing. Of course, even if you use these equipment, it is recommended to perform basic cleaning (especially algae residues) before overwintering.

Store properly
Once all devices are properly cleaned and reach their best condition, they can be put to sleep. We recommend dry and frost-free storage. In addition, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers, and chain saws can be wrapped with tarpaulins to prevent dust from entering.
What additional tasks you should consider to make the garden winter proof, we show in an additional post.
automatic chainsaw also needs to be stored properly, otherwise the chainsaw will rust.
Thanks to these simple rules, you can directly start using properly maintained and preserved gardening tools next spring, and you will almost certainly not have costly accidents.