Skip to main content

CARE FOR YOUR GARDEN TOOLS WITH THESE HELPFUL TIPS














A great gardener knows that well-maintained tools make working outdoors a joy rather than a chore. Here are some tips for making sure your tools are in tip-top shape this season.

Gardening season is here, and the experience can be a pleasure or a pain depending on the quality and care of your tools. While the last thing on your mind after a long day in the sun working on your garden is taking care of your tools, there are some simple routines you can use to make sure your equipment is good to go the next time you reach for them.

Gunk, moisture, and dullness are the biggest enemies to a healthy garden tool collection, so here’s how to address the biggest offenders:

1. Rinse, scrub, and dry. You need to knock the soil off the tools and work it out of the hinges. Tapping the tools to break the big clumps loose is a good idea, but you don’t want to chip the edges. Swing by the garden hose and rinse the tools. It might even be worth keeping a rigid-bristle brush on a hook near your hose to make the process easier. With the tools clean, dry them completely with a clean cloth or towel.

2. Keep oiled sand handy. Mix about 3/4 of a quart of linseed or other mineral oil with 5-gallon bucket of sand. Linseed oil is a good choice as it can be good for wood handles, too. Push the blades of the tools into the oiled sand. It’ll protect and condition the metal. While some people advise you use motor oil, consider than this will introduce some residual motor oil into your garden. Who wants that? Stick with a mineral oil. 

3. Sharpen regularly. A dull tool is a hazardous tool. Shovels, hoes, shears, pruners, and anything with a cutting edge should be periodically revived. Oil the blade and using a whetstone or carbide sharpener work the tool at a 20-degree angle until it is sharp again.

4. Store tools properly. Moisture is a killer, and tools left leaning on walls or concrete floors will be exposed to condensation and humidity. Ideally, hang your tools on pegs indoors to eliminate most of the harmful exposure.

5. Inspect springs and hinges. Tools will wear out over time, and you don’t want to be surprised by a snapped spring or loosening hinge. During your sharpening routine, take the time to check each tools’ most probable failure point. Tighten what needs tightening, replace broken parts, or replace the tool as needed.

Hopefully these tips will keep you gardening happily through the season. If you’re looking for a home with great property for starting a new garden, let’s talk! I am happy to help you find a home ready for your next agricultural masterpiece: valeriemcconville@gmail.com

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

4 TIPS FOR A PRODUCTIVE 2021

  4 Tips for a Productive 2021 (Family Features) This year has taught many workers a thing or two about being productive when offices and homes blend into one. As the calendar turns to 2021, consider these key products and processes to stay productive next year. Find a system (and stick to it): Creating an organizing system is an easy way to ensure your at-home workspace is ready for optimal productivity. Designate space to house all your work items – a drawer, cabinet or box – and keep work items organized by type (pens, papers, computer gear, etc.) At the end of each day, transitioning to “offline hours” can be easier when you have a place to stow your work items. Start your day clean: Studies have shown cleanliness has a direct impact on productivity. Yet, many people struggle to find the time and energy to clean, especially at the end of a busy day at home. An option like The DEEBOT T8 from Ecovacs provides a hands-free cleaning experien...

UNDERSTANDING HOW POCKET LISTINGS WORK

Have you ever wondered what a “pocket listing” is?  Learn a little bit about this trend in hot markets and how an agent familiar with pocket listings can help you sell your home faster or find homes which haven’t hit the market yet. If you’ve been searching for a home or have been considering selling your home, you may have heard the term “pocket listings” from real estate agents or even friends and family. What is a pocket listing? Where did the term come from? How are pocket listings being used today to buy and sell homes? Pocket listings are homes which are for sale but not yet widely advertised or entered into typical MLS databases. Often an agent will enter into an agreement to sell a home, but will first reach out to their personal and professional network to see if anyone may be interested in a quick, private purchase. Ideally, the agent knows someone or another agent who has a client interested in the home and the whole process of listing and marketing the ho...

UNDERSTANDING MULTIPLE OFFER SITUATIONS

In a seller’s market, multiple offers are not uncommon. But what does that really mean?  And how should you and your agent work together to generate the most interest in a multiple offer situation? Find out more in my post…  When inventory is tight and a market heats up, sellers often dream of finding themselves in a multiple offer situation. In a multiple offer situation, more than one potential buyer submits a written offer on the home. With multiple offers on a property, the listing agent can then try and “shop the top offer” in order to try and get the best deal possible for their client. If you live in a hot market, how do you structure your listing in such a way that you get the best possible offers in a multiple offer situation? One strategy for cultivating multiple offers is letting buyers know that the seller will only entertain offers on a certain date. Rather than deal with offers dribbling in one at a time, there’s a deadline for offers. When thi...