How to Look After Your Garden Tools

If you have a lot of garden tools, chances are you will want to take good care of them. The more you look after your tools, the longer they will last. But how do you take care of them without spending a lot of time on your tools? This article takes a look at this so your tools last much longer.

 

Remove The Soil

Once you have finished using your tools, please make sure you remove the soil. This is to ensure that the soil does not stick to your tools. When it does, it can cause rust thanks to the moisture in the soil. Rust is never good as it can damage the tools and make them more vulnerable to breaking.

You may occasionally need to scrub your tools to remove the soil. You could also spray them with water by using a hose. This helps to get rid of most of the soil. Brush any remaining soil away, and allow the tool to dry completely.

 

Ensure Your Tools are Dry

When your tools aren’t covered in soil, you could be forgiven for thinking that they are ok to put away. However, you should always make sure that they are dry. When they are wet, they are more likely to rust. The tool’s handle is also more likely to rust too, which can cause problems if you’re unable to hold them properly.

Your local garden center will probably stock rags and other cloths that are ideal for helping you to keep your tools dry.

 

Keep Your Tools Sharp

It’s important that you keep your tools sharp. This will ensure that they work as well as they possibly can. Make sure you sharpen your tools regularly so they continue to work well for you. The sharper they are, the more effective they will be. Don’t make the mistake of only sharpening your blades. You can also sharpen your spade, shovel, and secateurs. When they are sharp, they will help you to cut through those weeds and make sure gardening is so much easier.

 

Help to Prevent Rust

If you have used any type of tool in the past, you will know how easy it is for them to rust. The good news is that preventing rust is fairly easy. You could, for example, fill a large bucket with some builder’s sand. Next, pour one-quart of motor oil over the sand. Each time  you have finished with your tools, place them in the sand mix and take them out right away. Do this a few times as it can help to prevent rust from forming.

Alternatively, you could rub the tool’s handles with linseed oil. This oil will help to prevent the handles from rusting, however, it will not protect the tool itself.

 

It’s important that you look after your garden tools. The more you do, the longer they will last. Of course, some more expensive tools will last longer than some cheaper ones. However, if you take good care of them all, they should last you at least a few years.