Whenever gardeners ask for my advice on the best maintenance method for gardening tools, my response is to always go the highest quality and affordable brand. Shears, pruners and other tools can be found at Garrett Wade discount store. The small hand tools are the most abused by gardeners. A few extra bucks for a sturdy tool that will serve you for a while with excellent performance even under constant use is a worthy investment. Additionally, you would want to take care of your tools, not only to safeguard your investment but also to minimize the chances of spreading weed seeds or other soil-borne pathogens all over your yard.
Below are ten tips for maintaining your gardening tools this season:
- Clean your tools after each use
This can be done by simply hosing down your Super Penetration Garden Shovel or wiping sap off your premium pruning loppers. Take a little bit of your time to perform these simple tasks and surely, you will have managed to keep your tools in tip-top shape and ready for use in the next gardening session. You can get a stack of rags, some steel wool and a stiff brush at hand exclusively for cleaning your tools. You can store them in the garage or anywhere else next to all your gardening gear so that you don’t have to go searching for them whenever you need them.
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- Store your gardening tools in dry protected areas, most preferable hanging on a wall
Many time, you will notice that you forget and leave your tools outside even during rainy times. This mistake is heavily paid for when rust starts to take over. Moisture has always been an enemy of metallic gardening tools, therefore ensure that you always remember to carry them back in when you are done. Wet soil, on the other hand, is a culprit of corrosion. This is why it is recommendable to always rinse off any mud that might be clinging to your tools, before thoroughly drying them before storage. For people who live in extremely humid areas where they experience a lot of fog, this exercise should be adhered to keenly to prolong the life of your tools.
- After cleaning, oil your extra capacity XHD jumbo pole saw and pruner and pruning saw
These extra hard work tools are the most vulnerable to rust caused by residue build up on the blades and sap. Remember the hard brush I mentioned in the first point? This is where it comes in handy because you will need to scrub the blades to loosen the dirt, especially on the crevices, before carefully washing the blades using warm soapy water. Make sure the tool is completely dry before applying a few drops of lubricating oil all over the metallic part up to the joints, pivot and the blade. Wipe off the excess oil with a towel. This is one of the oldest gardening tools maintenance method.
- Another tip for the lazy gardeners is to fill a bucket with clean sand and stir with just enough amount of oil to dampen it a little bit
The sand should be just slightly moist, not oily looking. The bucket should be kept in a sheltered area in the garden so that after you are done. The process is very simple, when you are done with the gardening activities, for example with a garden digger or a stand-up hoe, brush off the dirt and debris then stick the tool, blade down, into the sand. The sand grains also help to keep the blades sharp while the oil prevents the formation of rust.
- Give your tool a good sharpening at least once every year
If you have a garden center or a local tool shop, in most cases they provide these services. If not, it is quite easy to pick up a sharpening device such as a whetstone, a flat file, or a carbide knife sharpener, which you can use to make a few passes through the blade of your tool.
- Do not neglect the wooden handles
At the end of every gardening session, you should inspect the handles on your weeders, pruners, hoes, mattock and other gardening tools. If you find some signs of splinter formation, you can sand out the roughness. You can also use a rag to oil the wooden handle without forgetting to let the oil soak in for a while before storing the tool. Repeat the oiling process until the tool cannot absorb any more oil.
- Ensure that your garden hose is properly drained and well stored for winter
A foolproof way to drain your garden hose is to uncoil its entire length, have someone hold one end of the hose to the ground while you raise the other end, keeping it as taut as you can. Leave the rest to gravity. After draining the hose completely, check the entire length for damages and make repairs in case of any.
- Inspect and clean hose appliances such as nozzles and sprinklers
You can start by rinsing the tools to remove any dirt from it. With a bucket of warm water plus some biodegradable detergent, you can soak in the tools for about 30 minutes, then using a toothbrush or a soft-bristled brush, vigorously scrub out any grime and dirt from the crannies and nooks.
- Store your tools properly
You can only work with space you have, therefore, you might want to hang some of the tools on pegboards, or store them in boxes and bags when they are not in use. Whichever way that works for you, just ensure that all tools are stored in dry places, power tools are stored in their original cases, and you can use silica gel packs or rust collectors to store tools that are most prone to rusting.
- Inspect and repair all tools before using them
Assuming that you use all your tools safely and you wear goggles and puncture-resistant gloves when necessary, you should be completely safe even when using power tools. Nevertheless, the fact that you are well protected does not allow for tool negligence. Ensure that your tools are fit for use by carefully inspecting them before every gardening session.
