Garden Tools and Their Care

by Marjorie Dorfman | More from this Blogger

03 Feb 2007 09:28 AM

Taking care of a garden requires hard work and the proper tools. They too need their special care if they are to continue to their best job for you and your garden. Here are some thoughts about how to treat them right. Read on, even if you are not an equal opportunity employer.

Good Old Reliable Rust To avoid rust, store all small garden tools and the heads of your larger ones in a mixture of fine sand and old motor oil. Small tools will easily fit in a bucket while larger items may require a small tub. If rust has already formed, sometimes a light layer on tools can be removed by rubbing a mixture of 2 parts salt and 1 part pure lemon juice. Heavier rust may require the use of fine steel wool as well.

Tool Handles A cloth soaked in boiled linseed oil will add life to those wooden handles. You can also protect your tool handles by slipping a piece of foam water pipe insulation over them. Secure it with some duct tape and assurances that no kidnapping or transporting beyond state lines will occur.

Tree Sap A little rubbing alcohol works wonders on removing tree sap from the blades of your garden tools.

Blade Care Saws, clippers and the like should be oiled regularly. Use either a good rust-inhibiting oil or a coating of petroleum jelly. Make your own slip-cover for saw, hoe and shovel edges by slitting a piece of rubber hose and placing it over the edges. Lawn mower blades should be sprayed with cooking oil spray before each use. This helps prevent the grass clippings from sticking to it. Even if some do stick, they will now come off a lot easier.

Do YOU have any tool tips to share? Please do.

Related Reading:

How Does Your Garden Clutter?

More Garden Clutter Tips"

"Clutter: Attack and Destroy"

"Don't Go In The Basement Clutter"

Learn more about Marjorie Dorfman

Marjorie Dorfman is a freelance writer and former teacher originally from Brooklyn, New York.

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Sherry Holetzky (11404) 03 Feb 2007 11:02 AM

Great tips, Marjorie. I'll be using these ideas!

Marjorie Dorfman (2577) 03 Feb 2007 01:26 PM

Hi Sherry, Thanks for sharing. Let me know how they work out. Best as always, Marjorie

samanthaGA (17) 21 Jul 2008 07:58 AM

Okay, I admit it. I am a gardenholic. If I don't have a few moments in the sun and in the dirt, I am not a happy camper! Since this is my passion, keeping my "tools of the trade" in top shape is a must. Your tip about linseed oil is the gospel truth. I use it everytime I store my long handled tools. Since you didn't mention lawnmowers, I thought I would add to your great list with a couple of tips. First, get a good mower. This is not the time to get the clearance sale, going out of production, bargain deal. We have a mid-range model called the Amico AZ46 Self Propelled Lawn Mower (http://www.ishoplandscaping.com/product/Amico-AZ46-Self-Propelled-Lawn-Mower) It is the best mower I have ever owned! Self-propelling is the only way to go. I can literally mow with one hand. The grass collection bag allows me to collect the clippings to put in my composter. It holds 1/2 gallon of gas which actually will cover a lot of grass. Now the cleaning tip: when you finish mowing, use a paint scraper to scrap out the wet grass. If you don't, eventual rust will take years off your mowers life. You can also use a hose occassionally to clean out the underside and rinse off the top. Be careful not to get water into the filter system. So, there's my tips. They say a persons lawn says a lot about them. I hope that mine speaks to my love of all things green. Happy gardening to all!