Maintenance
Garden tools can be a big investment. Proper maintenance of your garden tools will ensure that they will last and provide you with years of gardening pleasure.
Cleaning Your Garden Tools
After you use your hand tools, spray them off with water to remove potentially corrosive chemicals and dirt. If you can’t remove the dirt with water, try lightly scrubbing off the dirt with a wire brush. After cleaning, set your tools out to dry before you store them. You should clean your hand garden tools after each use.
Some gardeners recommend using old motor oil or olive oil as a way to simultaneously clean and lubricate the metal parts of your tools. If you like, you can keep a rag dipped in old motor oil or olive oil handy to clean your garden tools. Keep in mind that olive oil is natural and won’t contaminate the environment.
You should clean your power tools every week or so. This includes your lawn mower, tiller, etc. Dirt and potentially corrosive substances can quickly corrode the metal parts of these garden tools. A wire brush will help you to remove any dirt and debris that won’t come off with water. We also recommend an occasional washing with soap and water. Remember to let your power tools dry thoroughly before storing them.
Basic Garden Tool Maintenance Tasks
In addition to cleaning your hand tools, you should frequently oil any moving parts on tools such as pruners and garden loppers.
Also, keep the wooden handles lubricated on your shovels and other tools. Because wooden handles are constantly exposed to harsh weather conditions and use, the wood can wear and start to splinter. Clean the wooden handles with water and let them dry. Apply a coat of linseed oil and let the oil soak in before you use the tools again.
You should regularly sharpen any tools that have a blade. For example, garden shears and pruners will work much better when kept nice and sharp. The more you use your garden tools, the more often you should sharpen them. A whetstone will work for pruners, lopper, shears, etc.
The edges of hoes, shovels, and trowels may also wear down with use and become less effective. Clean these tools and sharpen the edges with a file, always moving the file in the same direction (away for you) as you sharpen. Keep the bevel as even as possible. If you have questions about sharpening your tools, ask a professional how to do it.
Throughout the gardening season, check your tools for any problems. For example, the wooden handles on shovels and other tools may splinter and wear down. Sand down these areas and coat the handle with linseed oil. Also, check to see if the handles are becoming loose. The constant pressure from digging may cause the handle to loosen over time. You can use an epoxy to fill the gap and keep the handles in place.
If the handle happens to break, you should replace the handle rather than buying a new tool. Handles are usually not the most expensive part of the tool, so you’ll save money if you simply repair the tool. Talk to your local garden supply store and bring the garden tool with you so that they can help you fit and replace the handle.
With your other hand tools, look for loose bolts and tighten them when needed. If you see rust on your tools, use an environmentally friendly rust removable product.
For power garden tools, you should read the tool manual and follow the recommended maintenance guide. Power garden tools typically need regular oil and air filter changes. Remember to clean off the dirt, oil, and debris from your power tools every couple weeks or so.
If you use a reel mower, check out the Reel Mower Guide, which has all the information you need for using and maintaining your reel mower.