Proper care keeps your pruning tools looking sharp

A. Garden tools work better and last longer if they are cared for properly. Late winter or early spring is a good time to give them a going-over — especially if you didn’t do so before you put them away in the fall — so they’re ready to work when you are.

If your tools develop rust, use a solvent such as Liquid Wrench and a scouring pad to scrub it away. Spraying a little graphite lubricant will help prevent rust and keep parts moving smoothly. Wooden handles can be sanded and varnished or painted (use oil-based enamel paint) to keep them looking and feeling good.

Maintaining your pruners’ blades is essential. You’ll find sharpeners at hardware stores and garden centers; if you aren’t comfortable sharpening the blades yourself, take the tools to a professional. If they are very nicked or dented and cannot be improved, look into replacing just the blades; in some cases, however, it may be more economical to buy a new tool than to replace blades on an old one. Once your pruners are clean and sharp, keep them that way: After every use, wipe the blades dry with a soft cloth. After pruning conifers and woody shrubs, use solvent such as rubbing alcohol or turpentine on a rag to remove sap from the blades.

Never leave your tools in the garden; find a sheltered, dry spot to store them.

Q. Can you suggest some natural methods for controlling mosquitoes?

A. The best way to reduce the number of these bugs is to prevent them from breeding. Female mosquitoes lay eggs — up to 200 at a time — in stagnant water. Within a couple of weeks, the eggs will transform into full-grown adults. To keep them at bay, check frequently for standing water, especially after a storm, and eliminate mosquito breeding grounds: overturned buckets, watering cans, and anything else that holds water. Remove saucers from below potted plants, or fill them with sand. Empty and refill birdbaths, fountains and pets’ dishes daily. Be sure gutters and downspouts are clear and pools are clean and properly chlorinated.

If you have a pond or other still body of water on your property, stock it with mosquito fish (minnows that prey on mosquitoes), or treat it with a product that contains Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis, or BTI, which is a bacteria that is harmful to newly hatched insects. Do not use BTI in marshes or other wetlands, as insects there play a key role in their ecosystems.

Regardless of how diligently you eliminate mosquitoes’ breeding grounds, the adult bugs can fly up to 20 miles from where they hatch, so they’ll likely still find their way into your yard. Luckily, there are several natural ways to repel them: Citronella oil, which is extracted from citronella grass and is commonly found in candles, may discourage mosquitoes. However, the candles’ effectiveness depends on wind direction and how close people are to them. Concentrated garlic spray has proved adept at repelling mosquitoes over a large area, such as a garden or backyard. Periodically apply the spray to plants, trees and lawns throughout the summer.

The bug zappers popular in the past were eventually deemed a waste of electricity, and their unpleasantly loud zaps killed beneficial bugs along with pesky ones. Mosquito magnets, which joined the market recently, appear to work more effectively, but their success lies in the production of CO2, which is considered detrimental to the environment.

Adapted from Martha Stewart Living