How to maintain and care for your gardening tools

Winter is a great time to get into the shed and clean your gardening tools. When tools are blunt, rusty, or old, they don’t function as well and can negatively impact your plants.

Less precise cuts from dull blades take longer to heal and can increase the risk of spreading infection or disease to your plants.

Clean and sharp tools last longer and reduce physical strain to their user. Debris and gunk will build up over time if not cleaned off consistently. As gunk builds up, springs, hinges and other joints or bolts will stiffen up and degrade.

1. Use a coarse metal brush to scrape dirt off the metal parts
2. Follow up with a dry rag and if necessary, a damp rag
3. Rub any rust away with a piece of sandpaper
4. Once clean, wipe them down with an oily rag
5. Using vegetable oil is an effective oil to use.

Check all wooden handles and remove any splinters with a piece of sandpaper and then wipe the whole handle down with linseed oil.

For a more thorough clean, it can be a good idea to disassemble the secateurs or shears and get into all the parts individually.

Storing your precious tools on a rack in their own undercover spot, will save you from losing them around the garden.