Maintaining Garden Tools

Even top-of-the-line tools need regular cleaning and sharpening to perform their best. Sharp pruning tools make cleaner cuts, allowing plants to heal faster, and sharp digging tools save you time and energy. Sharpening can be done once or more during the season, depending on how often you use the tools. Regular cleaning throughout the gardening season also does wonders for your tools, and caring for handles can be a yearly project.

Cleaning. Dirt and sap left on garden tools contribute to the spread of soil-borne diseases and weeds; they also attract and hold moisture, leading to the spread of rust. If your tools have moving parts, such as with pruners, shears, and loppers, disassemble them first. Clean accumulated rust and dirt off all metal surfaces with a wire brush. Remove stubborn rust from small tools with fine steel wool; use medium-grit sandpaper on larger tools such as shovels, spades, and hoes. 

Sharpening pruners. Once your tools are clean, they are ready to be sharpened. When sharpening, try to maintain the original factory bevel or angle. For pruners, use a whetstone because it produces a very sharp cutting edge. Depending on the type of whetstone, apply a few drops of oil or water to the stone. With the beveled side of the blade against the stone, rub the sharp edge of the blade toward the stone in a curved motion, as if you were trying to shave off a thin slice from the stone. 

Sharpening shears, loppers, shovels, spades, and hoes. Use fine- and medium-grit single-cut mill bastard files in succession to sharpen these tools. When working with a file, stabilize the blades in a vise or against a solid surface to avoid injury and ensure an even stroke. Always push the file across the blade in a motion away from your body; move the file diagonally, so that its cutting teeth are biting into the metal on the tool. When sharpening with a file, do not use oil; metal filings will accumulate and clog the file's serrations. 

Final touches. Lubricate all clean, sharpened metal blades and the heads of shovels, hoes, and rakes with a light machine oil or a synthetic oil such as Break Free CLP. About once a year, take the time to recondition your tools' handles. Clean wooden handles with a stiff-bristled brush, smooth nicks and splinters with medium-grit sandpaper, and coat handles with boiled linseed oil to help prevent future splintering. If plastic-coated handles are wearing thin, remove the coating with a craft knife and replace it with a liquid or spray plastic coating. Once the handles are in good shape, reassemble the tools and you're ready to take on any job in the garden.

Tools and Materials