Cleaning up tools and equipment is an important practice related to the garden that should not be ignored in the fall.

Proper cleanup of tools now will leave them in top shape and ready to use when spring comes.

Store tools in a dry place indoors, never outdoors where they will rust over the winter. Keep tools clean and dry. Never put tools away wet. If washing off soil from a tool, dry it when done.

Wheelbarrows, spreaders and garden carts should be cleaned with a hose. Sprayers should be washed with laundry detergent and water.

Anything that has come in contact with a chemical should be washed with soap and water. Fertilizers are extremely corrosive to metal. Soapy water or turpentine removes sap from pruners or loppers. Dry and oil pivot points with light oil or WD-40.

Clean, oil and repair hand tools. Repaint handles or identification marks that have faded over the summer. Sharpen blades and remove rust.

Wooden handles should be repaired or replaced if broken, weak or cracked. Sand rough spots on handles. Wooden parts and handles should be coated with linseed oil to prevent drying out or cracking. Loose screws should be tightened.

Coat metal surfaces of tools with oil to prevent rust. If minor rust is present, clean with steel wool. For larger or harder areas, use a wire brush.

The recipe to keep tools clean and rust-free is a five-gallon bucket, five pounds of sand and one quart of old motor oil or one quart of vegetable oil (environmentally-friendly).

Plunge tools into this mixture a few times after each use. Tools can be stored for extended periods of time in this mixture. Wipe each tool when ready to use.

Don't keep hoses in direct sunlight. This will cause them to dry out and crack.

Drain hoses before temperatures drop below freezing. Check for leaks and replace worn-out washers before coiling up and putting them away.

Store items upside down to prevent rodents from nesting in them. Use plastic containers for chewable items.

Power tools should be cleaned of plant material and dirt. Replace worn spark plugs, oil parts and sharpen blades.

Drain fuel from the mower and rototiller or add stabilizer. Remove matted grass from the top and bottom.

Drain oil from the crankcase and replace. Change the oil filter if necessary. Keep the battery fully-charged and in a warm spot during storage. Oil moving parts and wipe down machine with an oily rag. Dry the mower, if washed.

Hand sprayers require cleaning after each use by rinsing at least three times through tank, hose and hand control-nozzle.

Insecticides and liquid fertilizers are often compatible in the same sprayer, but check the labels first.

Sprayers used for herbicides are best kept to that task alone, and beware when switching between broadleaf and total vegetation control chemicals in the same sprayer. Keep them separate.

If you take care of equipment, you should have good service for many years. It doesn't save time or money in the spring if you have to buy new equipment.

Successful gardening doesn't stop with the first frost, but continues throughout the fall and early winter months. When following good garden care practices during this time, your garden will be ready for the growth of healthy vegetables next spring.

For answers to your garden questions, call the Lehigh County Cooperative Extension Office, 610-391-9840, or Northampton County Cooperative Extension Office, 610-746-1970, and ask to speak with a Master Gardener. Volunteers staff phone lines several days a week, Monday - Friday.

Growing Green is contributed by Lehigh County Cooperative Extension Office Staff and Master Gardeners.