Now that autumn has arrived, it’s time to think about all those garden tools you used this summer. They probably all need a bit of attention, such as inspecting, cleaning, renovating, sharpening, and storing over the winter.

You will need the following items to perform the task: a decent pair of safety glasses and gloves, a workbench with a vise (Vice grips or a serious C-clamp will do if you don’t have a vise.), bleach solution (10%) in a spray bottle, boiled linseed oil, lubricant oil or spray, a metal file, rags, sandpaper, steel wool, varnish, paint or stain and a wire brush.

Check axes, shovels, and hoes for nicks, and if found, place the tool into the securing device to free up your hands. File the edge in one direction, away from you for its entire path, maintaining the angle which is in existence. (Axes have a 30° angle while hoes and hovels are 40°. Remove any burrs on the back side with a light filing touch. Repeat until the edge is smooth. Cracked wooden handles may be replaceable. Cracked heads should be discarded.

Sharpening cutting tools, such as pruners, clippers or hedge trimmers also require securing on the bench. Some only need to be sharpened on one edge, the one with an angle. If that is the case, secure the angled section. Others may need to be disassembled to be sharpened. (Be sure to contain all the parts removed so they can easily be put back as they were.) The sharpening technique is the same as for shovels: following the angle, file away from you in one continuous stroke along the entire edge. Drawing along the edge with a marking pen and filing until the color is gone may be helpful.

To remove a little rust, saturate some coarse sand with clean motor oil or vegetable oil in a bucket. Dip the tool into the bucket several times and wipe away any excess. This bucket of sand and oil may be used all season for the storage of your hand tools.

Tools with stubborn rust issues may be soaked in white vinegar, then abraded with steel wool or a wire brush, or sandpaper. Wipe down the treated surfaces with oil to prevent further rusting.

Hinges require a spray or drop of lubricant to keep them operating smoothly.

Wash wooden handles with a wood soap, then wipe some boiled linseed oil. Allow to set for a while, then wipe off excess. Handles painted with a bright color are easily recognizable among the greens and brown of the garden. An oil-based or exterior paint adds to longevity.

Fiberglass, rubber, or plastic handles can be washed and dried.

Collect the rags and properly dispose of them to prevent spontaneous combustion from the chemicals and heat.

And don’t forget to treat the wheelbarrow, using the techniques described above!

Store tools in a dry place over the winter.