When the garden starts shutting down for winter, it’s tempting to toss the shovel against the shed wall, drop the pruners on a shelf, and promise yourself you’ll deal with everything in spring. Unfortunately, a few months of moisture, dirt and neglect can turn perfectly usable tools into rusty, dull, or cracked ones. Proper garden tool storage doesn’t require an expensive organizer or a climate-controlled garage, but it does require more than simply getting tools out of the rain. A little maintenance now can save money on replacement shovels, pruners, hoes, and other equipment when planting season returns. Before cold weather settles in, give the tools that worked all summer a proper winter shutdown.
