Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
what worked or did not work to make it easier to plan for next sea-
son.
Cleaning and Sharpening Your Tools
It is extremely important to clean your tools, pots, and work sur-
faces, especially when they have come into contact with diseased
plants or soil. If you do not take the time to clean them the disease
can easily and quickly spread throughout your whole garden. Even if
you are not working with diseased plants, it is still a good practice to
clean your tools on a regular basis. Every gardener should get into
the habit of cleaning off any dirt and wiping the tool after every use.
After working in your garden, remove the tools from the garden
area and scrape the soil off them. Wipe the tool clean and store it in
its proper place. Brush or sweep all benches or surfaces. Clean pots
or pails with a solution of one part bleach to ten parts water.
Smoothie Garden Solution
Having a large, well-organized garden shed is a luxury most
gardeners do not have, but it is important to organize your tools
and equipment in the storage space you do have. Keep frequently
used items where you can easily reach them. If you have an
organized space, you will be less likely to purchase duplicate tools,
which will save you money!
Do a thorough cleaning of all your tools at the end of the season
before you put them away into storage. Rub off any debris with a
cloth or burlap sack. If the dirt is dried on, use a wire brush or steel
wool to scrape it all off. Then wipe any metal parts lightly with oil
(car oil works well) and wipe wooden handles with boiled linseed oil.
