Master Gardeners In the Garden
It’s time to winterize garden tools and equipment
By Mary Fran McClure
WSU Chelan/Douglas County Master Gardener
Now is a good time to do a little prep work before putting your gardening tools to sleep for winter. Garden tools are seen here in the process of being painted and sharpened. A hori-hori knife and weeder show off newly painted handles of bright orange, while a pruner is ready for cleaning and sharpening. – Provided photo/Mary Fran McClure 
Mary Fran McClure – WSU Extension Chelan/Douglas County Master Gardener – photo by Don Seabrook, Wenatchee World While raking those last leaves for composting, many gardeners are hankering for other adventures such as skiing or enjoying pursuits in the warmth of indoors. Before moving on, take time to winterize gardening items and you’ll be ahead of the curve next year.
Not my favorite activity, but this one is too important to overlook. Next year will be less frustrating if we tackle these winterizing jobs now.
First in line is cleaning and sharpening tools. Tops on my list are pruners and loppers; they’re used often and get gummed up and dull quickly. A clean cutting blade is a pleasure. There are sharpening kits available, some more complicated and exacting, and one very simple one. The latter is just a small tool with a sharpening stone at one end. The trick is keeping the angle constant as you sharpen. Clean the blade first, then be sure to use a drop or two of oil as you sharpen.
Save yourself some frustration by cleaning and painting the wood handles of your hori hori knife, weeders and other tools. I use a sample can of bright orange paint, so the tools are easily spotted while working in the yard. Otherwise, those dull wood colors of well-used tools are easily camouflaged beneath leafy undergrowth.
Shovels should also be cleaned; if they have slightly rough wooden handles, lightly sand and then rub with boiled linseed oil.
Gas should be emptied from lawn mowers and other gas equipment, either by running them until they stop or pouring out the remaining and disposing of it properly.
Not exactly tools, but irrigation filters need attention also. The frustrating job of cleaning those little micro-sprinkler filters has suddenly become a snap. I found that by using my late husband’s dental pic, it takes no time to clean those little filters. It’s much better than going to the extent (and expense) of buying new ones every time they need cleaning or using a brush for a time-consuming cleaning.
While on the subject of irrigation, I’ll share a quick fix on marking the direction of micro-sprinklers, although winter isn’t the right time to do this. Keep this in mind for next year as you get ready to restart your irrigation system. Using a Q-tip, take that handy little can of orange paint and walk around to each sprinkler that has a directional aim; dab a bit of paint on top of the sprinkler head centering the direction of watering. It’s greatly satisfying being able to avoid having to turn on sprinklers to see if they’re pointed in the correct direction and then getting wet while correcting them.
As for potted plants and containers, they’re vulnerable in freezing weather. I move my pottery containers into the garage; some still contain tropical plants such as canna rhizomes and mirabellas. In my Oct. 31 column, I shared how I save these plants year after year.
My antique wooden gypsy cart gets moved into storage and out of the elements. Several years ago, I replaced its decaying wooden base, added a good drainage hole, then painted fiberglass on the entire inner shell to protect that old brittle wood. With soil and plants added, no fiberglass shows.
Accomplish these projects and come indoors to enjoy a warm beverage and perhaps thumb through garden catalogs as you dream of a new and productive 2025 gardening year.
A WSU Chelan and Douglas County Master Gardener column appears weekly in The Wenatchee World. To learn more, visit bit.ly/MGchelandouglas or call 509-667-6540.
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