Key Steps of Gardening Tool Care And Maintenance
After a good solid day of gardening, one thing many people neglect to do is clean and maintain their gardening tools before storing them away. When gardening season comes around and you excitedly go to grab that pair of shears you bought last year, it can be disheartening to discover they are all rusted and dull because you just chucked them in the garage after you last used them. A common misconception people have is that tools will get dirty, and it’s not like the cutlery in the house where you have to make sure they’re cleaning before using them again to eat. A little TLC will go a long way to keeping your gardening tools in top shape. Your gardening tools like gardening spades, gardening trowels, gardening hoes, gardening hose, gardening shears, gardening scissors etc.
While it’s true you can probably get away with just giving them a quick wipe and then putting them away, it’s best to establish a routine of caring for your tools, so that you get the most out of them and next time when you want to use them you’re less likely to unearth a clogged, rusty, or even blunt gardening tool.
We’ve outlined a few key steps you can take to ensure that your gardening tools stay in the best possible condition and that they’ll be up to the task you want to undertake.
1. How to wash gardening tools?
Rinse off any digging tools like gardening spades, gardening trowels, gardening hoes etc with a gardening hose and use a wire brush to remove any caked on dirt.
Gardening scissors, bow rake, gardening pruning shears and the like should be washed in soapy water and scrub off any dirty with a brush or scouring pad. You can usually separate the blades of gardening shears and pruners and make sure that you get all the dirt out from between the blades.
If you’ve used any tools on sick or diseased plants or they’ve come into contact with any pests then soak them in a solution of 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. It also maybe a good idea to have some disinfecting wipes handy while you are gardening so you can move quickly between sick and healthy plants without having to go and wash your tools in a bleaching solution.
You can also use solvents like turpentine or alcohol to clean away any sap or sticky substances, but you’ll need to remember to oil your tools afterwards as the solvents will strip away any protective coating or lubricants.
2. How to dry gardening tools?
Always make sure that your tools are dry before putting them away. Wet or damp tools are going to end up rusty or moldy. Make sure you keep gardening tools in a well ventilated place that’s not likely to suffer from dampness.
Kitchen roll or a decent hand towel will do the job. Tissues tend to get stuck or torn to pieces which is more work and while trying to remove pieces of pesky stuck tissue, you may end up accidentally cutting yourself.
3. How to oil gardening tools?
A lot of people make the mistake of using motor oil to keep tools lubricated. Of course, motor oil definitely does the trick, however, you probably don’t want that oil getting into your soil as it will poison it and the plants growing in it. Using linseed oil or any kind of mineral oil is a much better choice. Your plants will definitely thank you for it.
4. How to sharpen gardening tools?
You need to keep your gardening tools sharp because dull blades cause damage to branches and stems and that attracts disease. There are specialized sharpening tools available or go for a traditional sharpening stone. Make sure to move the blades in the same direction when sharpening, not going back and forth. If you’re using a sharpening wheel make sure you wear protective glasses to avoid any slivers or dust from getting in your eyes.
5. How to Deal with rust gardening tools?
If you find your gardening gardening spades, gardening trowels, gardening hoes, gardening hose, gardening shears, bow rake, gardening scissors are getting rusty or have rust on them then you can follow these steps to remove the rust.
- Soak overnight in a 1:1 solution of vinegar and water
- Scrub them with steel wool
- Wash in soapy water then plain water
- Dry thoroughly and then apply a coat of oil.
We hope this handy guide will keep your tools in top condition and will last you for many years to come. Is there anything you think we missed or do you have any tips you’d like to share? Please contact us and let us know.
