Preparing your garden accessories for the arrival of spring

Gardening tools

Check your tools and give them a good clean, ready for spring.  Use a garden hose to remove any leftover soil and debris and scrape away any stubborn dirt or stuck-on mud with a stiff brush.

Cutting tools like shears and secateurs should be in good condition and make sure the blades are sharp by using some oil, then file the edges to sharpen. Give the wooden handles a rubbing with linseed oil to keep moisture out and prolong the tool handle’s life.

To make sure your gardening equipment is in full working order for the year, make it a routine to clean the tools when you finish before hanging them back in your shed or garage.  Scrape off the worst of the dirt and soil with a stiff brush and then wash the tool thoroughly, before leaving the tools to dry.

Lawnmowers

Cleaning the underside of your lawn mower is essential for the machine’s efficiency and cut.  Simply tip the mower on its side and spray underneath with a garden hose to loosen the grass debris using a stiff or wire brush.

Make sure the mower blades are sharp and not blunt. A sharp mower blade will cut your grass in a clean and swift motion rather than tearing which can create severe stress on the lawn. This will leave patchy gaps, creating the perfect environment for weeds to grow and flourish.

If you own a petrol mower, we recommend draining the old fuel from your machine and replacing it with fresh fuel.

Check around your lawn mower to check the cables are all intact and the wheels are in good condition and you are good to go!

Pots and planters

It’s very easy to prepare your planters for potted plants and the growing season. Knowing how to clean your plant pots properly is a useful skill to keep your plants healthy and reduces the risk of pests and diseases becoming a problem.

Empty your pots of any old plants and compost. Using a stiff brush and clean water, remove any debris on the insides and fill with a weak bleach solution. We recommend one part bleach to nine parts water. Allow the pots to soak for half an hour to remove any lingering bacteria before rinsing well. Leave them somewhere sunny to air dry.

Bird Baths and Feeders

Your bird bath would have been used regularly during the colder temperatures as avian visitors use it as a source of fresh water to drink and bathe in.

To prepare for spring and summer, start by emptying the bowl of the bird bath of any stagnant water and cleaning it to remove any algae build-up. If algae build-up is left, it can be much harder to remove over time and may even stain with a tint of green.

Water Features

Water features are designed to be outside all year round, however as we head into spring, there are a few things you will need to do to maintain its condition as a focal point in your space.

Make sure you remove and clean any plants, algae, and debris that may have gathered in the water feature over the winter months. Give the pump a good soak and remove any blockages that may have occurred before refitting and cleaning any dirty components, before testing you’re the pump and re-installing it.

Refill your water feature with fresh water. Sit back and enjoy a sense of luxury and tranquillity in your space.

Fire pits and chimineas

If there is leftover ash from the previous time you used your firepit or chiminea, use a scoop to remove all the debris. The ash can retain water, and this can make it abrasive to your steel fire pit, so remove it into a bucket or tub and add this to your compost heap or garden.

Gently spray down your chiminea or firepit with a hose and lightly brush with a soap and water solution.  Turn the bowl upside-down or leave your chiminea standing and allow it to air dry in your garden.

We recommend you remove ash and soot from both after use (wait until the ash has cooled down) before gently scrubbing with steel wool.  Rinse, and dry with a soft cloth.