Getting You And Your Tools Ready For Spring – Ag Matters

With the first warm day of what we hope is spring, many are suffering the aches and pains of the first garden and yard work of the season.  The Master Gardener program at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County suggests getting you and your tools in shape before you start.

They suggest at least taking a nice walk to get the blood flowing and loosen up some muscles.  Yoga or Pilates exercises are great for helping stretch those seldom used muscles from their winter break.  If that's not your cup of tea;

try taking a few stairs going up and down helps. Stretching of any kind will assist our bodies before we Gardens. Think of the chores in the garden and do a similar exercise to stretch the body.

As for getting your tools ready, Master Gardeners suggest starting with the pruning sheers:

• First, take the tool apart and wipe off the dried soil from the pruner.
• Next, use a small piece of fine grit sand paper to clean the tool, especially the blades in rotating hand motions.
• Put the pruners together, then take a file and sharpen the blade.  File the blade from the base to the tip.
• Take a synthetic or cooking oil and spray the movable parts by operating the tool for the ease of movement.

North Star Orchards will be holding a Fruit Tree Pruning Class on Saturday April 18th at 1:00pm at their Orchard on Rt 233 in Westmoreland.  For any gardening questions you can call the Horticulture Hot Line Wednesdays and Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon at 315-736-3394.

SOURCE: Cornell Cooperative Extension Oneida County