Keeping your garden tools in good working order means less work for you and your tools will last forever. Maintenance of garden tools means removing anything that might cause corrosion, lubricating moving parts and sharpening blades to ensure crisp, clean cuts.
If you do a thorough clean-up of your tools after each use, you should only need to to a little extra maintenance once a year for additional cleaning and servicing. The best time for your annual garden tool check and maintenance is at the end of the gaardening season when you're putting your tools away for the winter. This ensures no corrosion will occur through the cold and wet season, and your tools will be ready to jump into action when the new season starts.
Always be conscious of safety issues when checking and repairing your garden tools. It is important to replace broken parts that cannot be safely repaired. Don't try to glue or tape a handle on shears or a shovel—replace it and avoid accidents.
Be Prepared to Maintain Your Garden Tools
Clear off a worktable and cover it with protective newspaper or plastic sheeting. Gather all your gardening tools and give them a thorough cleaning, using a wire brush if necessary to remove dirt and grime. Inspect each garden tool carefully for any damage and test to make sure all mechanisms work as they should. It's a good idea to have some plant stalks and twigs handy, to check cutting action of pruners and shears.
Gather your maintenance tools for any required repairs or servicing of your garden tools. Wear gloves when working on your tools to protect your hands and protective eyewear when doing any filing or hammering.
Here's a list of tools and supplies for maintenance chores:
- Detergent and hot water to clean garden tools - steel wool pads or wire brush to scrub metal parts. Have towels handy to dry tools immediately.
- Light oil to wipe on metal parts
- Linseed oil to wipe on dry wood handles to protect wood
- Sandpaper (medium and fine grit) to sand and smooth rough wood handles
- Files to sharpen digging and cutting tools
- Sharpening stones to hone and maintain sharp edges on cutting tools
- Hammer, screwdrivers, replacement screws, pliers
Storing Garden Tools in Winter
You'll add years to the longevity of your garden tools if you store them properly through the cold and wet weather of the winter. It's important to store them in a dry and secure location where they will not be bumped around in severely cold weather, cracking or breaking plastic parts, and not subject to growing rust or corrosion from moisture. If you are fortunate enough to have the space for a garden storage shed, make sure it is water-tight, otherwise a dry spot in your basement or storage room will do the trick. Your garden tools will thank you with many years of service!
Maintaining Garden Tools