The snow has retreated, but Tom Kasper recommends waiting a few days before digging into those gardens. What to do in the meantime? Care for your tools!
With new tools costing more than a pretty penny, caring for the tools that you already have can be cost effective, and may very well improve the effectiveness of the tool itself. A good tool can also make for a heartier garden. Taking a file to pruner blades will result in healthier cuts to your fruit trees. A little lubricant to the spring mechanism is good annual practice too.
And don't neglect shovels. That same file that you used for pruning blades can be applied to the business end of a shovel. No, the ground hasn't become harder; sharpen that blade and make your shoveling duties that much easier.
You can hear Tips for Hardy Gardeners every other Tuesday at 8:20am on Northland Morning.
