Spring Cleaning: Garden Tools

As we gear up for spring, you'll want to make sure your favorite tools are in good condition for the season ahead. Here are some things to consider as you revisit the garden shed or prepare to hit the hardware store.

Hand Tools

Regular tool maintenance and cleaning is key for longevity of your shovels, pruners, and other hand tools. Spring is an excellent time to check in on these items and consider some routine maintenance!

General Hand Tool Maintenance

• Rust is the enemy of all good hand tools, so use rough sandpaper or steel wool to remove any signs of rust.
• Test sharp edges and sharpen them with a garden file if needed.
• Make sure you have a pair of gloves (or three!) on hand to protect you during weeding and other garden tasks. (If you're like our Rachio Master Gardener and always have your hands in the dirt, it's a good idea to have an extra pair at the ready).
• Keep wooden handles smooth, protected, and splinter-free by applying linseed oil.
• Prevent plant diseases before they start by practicing good tool hygiene. Disinfect all metal with isopropyl alcohol or chlorine bleach to get rid of diseases and unwanted pests.

Watering Tools

Garden Hoses

• Run water through any hoses to check for leaks, kinks, and other abnormalities. Tip: Our Rachio Master Gardener suggests proactively changing out the washer at the mouth of your hose once a year to prevent leaks.

Smart Watering Tools

• If you’re using a Smart Hose Timer to automatically water from your hose, spring is a great time to reinstall it. Just screw the valve onto the faucet after freezing temperatures have passed and check your Rachio App to begin watering.
• When you're ready to start irrigating again, Rachio makes it easy to reactivate your sprinkler controller for spring. To begin watering, simply turn off “Standby Mode” in the Rachio App and make sure your controller is online. If you live in a cold-weather region and winterized your system, you'll need to make sure water is turned back.

Lawn Mowers

• If you use a lawn mower, we strongly recommend giving it an inspection and performing any maintenance before you fire it up this spring. Routine maintenance sessions twice a year (we recommend fall and spring) should keep your machine in good working order.

Seeds & Flower Bulbs

• Inspect any seeds or flower bulbs you have on hand and make sure they're dry and intact before planting.
• Throw out any seeds that may have frozen over the winter, as these are unlikely to sprout.
• If you're using seeds from previous growing seasons, consider how long they have been stored. Most seeds will still sprout after a year or two from purchase, but seed viability will depend on the plant type and how the seeds were stored. Tip: You can easily test your seed viability at home to decide if you should purchase new seeds.

Recommended Tools for Spring

If you're in need of new tool recommendations for spring, check out our Spring Product Guide filled with favorite items from our Rachio Master Gardener!