Garden Tool Maintenance

Simple maintenance can make your garden tools last longer. That saves you money! Simple maintenance can make your garden tools work better. That saves you time!

Wood handles
Wood handles need to be sanded and oiled usually once a year. Wipe off the handle to clean, and use little if any water. Use fine sand paper to smooth the surface. Remove any dust and rub linseed oil into the handle. Let it soak in. Use as much as it takes until it doesn't absorb any more. Wait about a half hour then wipe off any remaining oil with a clean, dry rag.

Fiberglass
Handles, step stools, etc. made of fiberglass need a little attention too. Wash with soap and water then dry.
Metal surfaces

Store metal tools such as shovels or pruners in a 5-gallon bucket filled with coarse sand to which oil (motor oil or vegetable oil) has been added. The small amount of oil that will transfer from the tool to the soil will break down without causing any harm.

You can use the same bucket as a cleaning step. Clean off as much dirt as you can then dig the tool up and down in the sand a few times to clean off remaining dirt and coat the head with oil. The oil coating prevent rust.
Remove light rust with a wire brush.

If the rust is a bit worse, you can sometimes remove it by soaking the tool in white vinegar; otherwise, use steel wool. Start with the least coarse grade you can to remove the rust. Once the rust is removed and the entire surface is clean, you can apply a rust-proofing primer. Steel wool and repaint any rough areas.

File the cutting edge of your metal tools to keep the blades sharp. Though it can be a tough job if it hasn’t been done for awhile even a badly sharpened tool is easier to use that a dull tool. If you regularly file your tools, it will take less strokes to keep a sharp edge.

Detailed filing instructions

Pruning tools
Clean the tool and its blades each time you use it. Use LiquidWrench products to keep hinges working freely.

Detailed filing instructions

For very expensive pruners, have them professionally sharpened or invest in a specialty tool to make sure you can sharpen them correctly.

WARNING!
Remember to always use safety glasses when working with files or power tools. One metal splinter can cause a lot of damage if it gets in your eye. Be safe!

Storage
Hanging your tools by their handles on a storage shed or garage wall not only keeps them out of the way but also prevents damage to sharpened edges. A 10-penny finish nail driven into a handy two-by-four is the easiest way to keep tools aloft. Drill 1/4-inch holes through the handles of axes, shovels, hoes, rakes and other long-handled tools to hang them on the nails. Be sure to keep the business end of the tool hanging toward the floor.

Gloves
A good well-fitted pair of gloves is a necessary tool in gardening. You must protect your hands from the sun, wind and cold. You must also protect your hands from soil borne pathogens and the cuts and scraps that would allow them easy access. However, gloves can also spread insects, their eggs, soil borne diseases and viruses. So you want to select gloves that can be washed and machined dried.