Mowing, planting, pruning, raking, spraying, spreading and transplanting are easy with good tools - and difficult without them. Make sure you have the proper tools to maintain your garden, and that you're maintaining them properly. Winter is a great time to do that.

Lawn mowers: The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute says users of gasoline rotary mowers should drain the tanks outdoors or in well-ventilated areas in the winter. Pour a small amount of light oil into the cylinder, and pull the rope to turn the engine several times. Replace the plug and clean the outside of the mower. Store it and the gas in a well-ventilated, protected area that is away from flames.

To get good service from gasoline-powered mowers, keep the blades sharp, change the oil and clean the air filter after 20 to 25 hours of operation. Change the spark plug after every 100 hours. Lubricate wheels with No. 2 multipurpose lithium grease, if the mower has fittings. Two-cycle engines burn mixtures of gas and oil, and while they don't need oil changes, they probably pollute the air more than other types of mowers.

Electric mowers are low maintenance - just keep the blade sharp. In the case of AC-powered units, purchase extension cords long enough to reach the boundaries of your lawn, and be careful not to run over them.

For those who favor the old-fashioned way, new versions of the reel-type push mower do an excellent job if the lawn is mowed regularly. Reel-type mowers are fun and easy to use and don't require winterizing. Keep the blades sharp, and use a little WD-40 lubricant on the cutting surface and axle shafts every few weeks.

Spreaders and sprayers: The only way to ensure accurate and even distribution of dry fertilizer, weed killer or insect control is by using a drop spreader, which drops material through holes in the bottom of a hopper. Broadcast spreaders are perfect for grass seed, lime, gypsum, fertilizer and fine-textured compost.

Thoroughly clean sprayers and spreaders after every use. Many landscape chemicals are extremely corrosive, and failure to clean your equipment before storing it for winter might necessitate replacing parts or purchasing new ones.

Pruning tools: Winter is the time for pruning. The most practical general-purpose cutting tool is one you can hold in one hand. Anvil pruners have a single blade that cuts onto a flat surface set into the jaw of the tool, while bypass pruners cut like scissors. Long-handled lopping shears are held with two hands.

Manual cutting tools require little maintenance. Place a little light oil on the pivot point, and clean and sharpen blades using a sharpening stone or fine-textured, flat metal file to remove burs and sharpen the bevel.

Loppers are difficult to keep aligned and sharp because of leverage that can be applied due to the long handles, but they do provide extended reach. Don't cut branches that are more than an inch thick with this tool.

Long-handled gardening tools: Use a round-pointed spading shovel with a 48-inch handle for digging holes and turning soil. Heavier digging blades are most efficient because they hold pointed edges better and will not twist and bend. To ready digging edges, hone them with a fine-textured, flat metal file to remove burs, nicks and dullness. Leave the edge somewhat blunt or thick so you won't wear it down too quickly. It should be sharp enough to dig through tree roots.

If you must dig holes or a trench, especially through rocks and tree roots, use a mattock with a cutter or pickax-type head and a 36-inch handle. It's also an excellent tool for planting bulbs and perennials.

Pitchforks are the most practical tool for turning compost piles, spreading mulch or lifting yard debris. Use a heavy-duty, five- or six-tine manure fork with a 54-inch handle. Manure forks' metal tines seldom need honing, and if they're not parallel, they're flexible enough to bend back into line.

Joel M. Lerner is president of Environmental Design in Capitol View Park, Md., and author of "Anyone Can Landscape"(Ball; 2001). Contact him through his Web site, www.gardenlerner.com.

This article appeared on page G - 3 of the San Francisco Chronicle