This garden shovel requires attention. The cracked handle was at one time repaired with duct tape, and the blade is rusty and in need of sharpening.

With the first stay of spring behind us, our gardens are beginning to wake up to the sun's warmth and longer daylight hours.

Outdoors, my fall-planted garlic is emerging. Indoors, my tomato and pepper seeds are germinating, and my vegetable garden schematics are taking shape.

As I wait for the warmer days of spring when I can “roll up my shirt sleeves” and begin working in my garden, I am taking the opportunity to further inspect, clean and repair my garden tools before I put them in service.

Tools that are well cared for will last longer and will make gardening tasks easier. Use this process to prepare your tools for garden use.

Find all of your garden tools, including hand tools, hoes, shovels, rakes, and pruners and set aside an area where you can inspect, clean and repair your tools.

If your garden tools were not thoroughly cleaned in the fall, remove any remaining soil and debris. Use a wire brush to loosen debris and wipe the surface clean with a shop cloth or rag.

Visually inspect your garden tools for any wear, broken or loose parts, and dull blades. Sharpen any blades that are dull, and lubricate moving parts, joints and springs.Repair or replace wooden handles that are loose, bent or cracked. Protect wooden handles with light applications of high-gloss outdoor paint or a finishing oil, such as linseed.Sterilize garden tools to prevent the spread of bacterial and other diseases. Plant residue can remain on pruners and knives; using contaminated tools to cut or prune other plants can spread disease.One method for sterilizing garden tools is to dip or swab the tool with 70 percent alcohol and let the tool air-dry. Do not rinse. A second method is to dip tools into a diluted solution of household bleach using nine parts water to one part bleach. After sterilizing your garden tools, clean, dry and lubricate them to protect from rust and to maintain mechanical performance, especially for tools like pruners.

Repair tools by replacing blades and handles. If your garden tools are beyond repair, recycle or repurpose them.Clean, inspect, maintain and store tools after gardening. Store gardening tools in a dry garage, shed or other shelter that keeps them out of the weather.While fall is the best time to inspect, clean and repair garden tools, we may have stored our garden tools without a thorough inspection and cleaning. Fortunately, spring weather offers one last chance to properly prepare your garden tools for the season.Contact the Penn State Master Gardener Butler County Garden Hotline at 724-287-4761, Ext. 229, for more information about gardening equipment and maintenance.Peter Ekstam is a Master Gardener in Butler County.

The repaired shovel shows a newly purchased handle replacing the repaired one. The shovel blade was soaked in a rust remover, rinsed and wiped clean. A rust-proof paint applied to the blade improved its appearance; however, shovel use will quickly remove the new paint. The blade was sterilized with a bleach solution and stored in a garden shed for future use.

Peter Ekstam