Page 6 2026 Spring Home and Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS April 2026 8. Garden rake. Rakes are for spreading mulch, compost, and topsoil in the garden. Leaf rakes are wider and more flexible for gathering leaves. Rakes may be made of plastic, steel, or other metal. Perennial rakes are more compact and good for getting around flowering things and under shrubs, and for clearing harder to reach areas around perennials. 9. Watering cans. Watering cans come in various sizes. Always water the ground surrounding the plant and avoid wetting the leaves. 10. Kneeling pads. Kneeling pads come in different sizes and thicknesses and are for comfort and knee health when working on the ground. 11. Personal Protective Equipment. Gloves help prevent infection, hats provide shade, and sunscreen prevents sunburn. Having a first aid kit handy is a good idea if gardeners follow the advice to keep tools sharp. Tool Care and Cleaning Clean after each use by removing detritus and soil. Wipe down the tools and let them dry. This helps prevent transmission of pathogens to different areas of the garden. After cleaning, coat the tool with WD-40. Smooth wooden handles with sandpaper and coat with oil once a year. Tool Sharpening Sharpening tools yourself can be a hassle because angles must be exactly right. Edge of Normal Workshop in Bloomington offers tool, knife, and scissors sharpening for reasonable prices. Clean the tools before taking them for sharpening. To sharpen manually, gardeners will need a file for the purpose. Only one side of the tool needs to be sharpened. Go against the grain and then on an angle. Only file in one direction. Use a vise for a sturdy grip and check out YouTube videos for demonstrations. A sharp, quality tool can make all the difference. As Abraham Lincoln said, “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” Having the right tool for the job and a highquality tool in peak form can aid the home gardener in numerous ways. Quality tools can be more efficient with less effort and better ergonomics, so the gardener can have an easier and more enjoyable garden experience. [Stephanie Hall]
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzExODA=