As an avid fan of Martha Stewart I have read a lot of her magazines and watch her regularly on television. Here are some of the tips that I have learned from her in and around the garden.

Keep Your Tools Clean

Well-maintained garden tools make every task easier. Sharp garden shears will trim grass with ease, and a well-honed shovel will slice through soil efficiently. The garden benefits from your efforts, too: A sharp blade on a pruner, lopper, or lawn mower cuts cleanly, allowing plants to heal more quickly.

Maintaining your tools also makes sense economically. Tools seldom become obsolete; most will work as well today as they will in 10 or 20 years. Some become more valuable over time as collectible antiques or practical family heirlooms. Martha Stewart herself uses tools that were passed down to her by her father.

Here is her best tip for maintaining your shovels. After you are done using a shovel, spade, trowel, or hoes shovel take 30 seconds to clean it and keep it rust-free. Fill a 5-gallon bucket with sand, and place it near the entrance of your tool shed or garage. Mix in about 2/3 of a quart of motor oil -- enough to dampen the sand, but not to soak it through. Whenever you return a tool to the shed, knock off the biggest chunks of soil, then plunge the tool's head into the sand a few times. Brush off the sand, and store the tool as you normally would. This will ensure that your digging tools stay shiny and smooth and will last for a long time.

Hydration

Another important tip is to keep your garden well hydrated. The NO-Crank automatic hose reel is ideal for any garden. The automatic hose reel rewinds the hose using the power of the water pressure inside the hose. This automatic hose reel is will make sure that you never leave the hose lying on the ground again. The automatic hose reel will keep your garden clutter free and make cleaning your tools easier. The hose reel also comes in a sink station model that lets you place a sink station anywhere your hose can reach, this is ideal for keeping your tools clean after use and for washing up to avoid tracking your garden throughout your house.

To learn more about gardening or to learn about hose reels please visit No-Crank.com.