Gardening Tool Care (NAPSA)—Before diving into yard care, make sure your lawn and gardening tools are up to the task with proper maintenance. The tips below could save you moneyand time by extending the life of yourtools. HandTool Maintenance To protect your investment in quali- ty hand and gardeningtools, clean them after each use, removing anydirt and de- bris. Then, wash and dry them, andlight- ly rub rusted areas with fine sandpaper. How does your garden grow?It could grow evenbetterif you're smart about keeping your tools sharp and in good shape. Pruning shears should be placed in a bucket with water and scrubbed with a wire brush until the metal is clean after each use. Coat the blades and moving parts with a water displacement lubricant with a controllable spray pattern, such as the non-aerosol WD-40 MultiUse Product Trigger Pros. Its narrow spray pattern will give you more con- trol, eliminating overspray for less mess, while preventing rust from building up and helping shears open and close smoothly. Sharpening Tools Sharp tools make yard chores easier for you and help plants healfaster after a trim. Pruning shears, hedge shears and grass clippers function in a similar scissor-like manner. To sharpen them, tighten the pivot nut andfile the edge of the pruning blade following the factory-cut bevelin single strokes until fresh steel is exposed. Power Equipment Maintenance Check your powertools carefully for worn parts that may need replacement, and for loose screws, nuts or bolts. To stay in good condition, lawn mowers need yearly tune-ups. Protect the blades by coating them with WD-40 Multi-Use Product Trigger Pro’s wide spray pattern to help prevent rust, and dirt and debris, from sticking to the blade. Make sure your gardeningtools are up for all tasks. For more information about how non-aerosol WD-40 Trigger Pro can help make your gardening tool maintenanceeasier, visit wd40.com.
