Groundskeeper

Garden Tool Maintenance: Keeping Tools Sharp

June 28, 2025
Groundskeeper Team
4 min read
Garden Tool Maintenance: Keeping Tools Sharp

Your garden tools are an investment. Proper care and maintenance not only extends their life but also makes your gardening tasks easier and more enjoyable. A sharp shovel cuts through soil with ease, and clean pruners make healthier cuts on your plants. A little end-of-season maintenance goes a long way.

🧼 Step 1: Clean Your Tools Thoroughly

Never put your tools away dirty. Soil holds moisture and can lead to rust and rot.

1
Scrape Off Mud: Use a putty knife or wire brush to remove all caked-on dirt and mud from shovels, trowels, and hoes.
2
Wash and Dry: Wash the tools with a hose and a stiff brush. Dry them completely with an old towel. This is the most important step to prevent rust.
3
Sanitize Pruners: Wipe the blades of your pruners and loppers with a cloth soaked in rubbing alcohol to kill any plant diseases.

🔪 Step 2: Sharpen the Edges

A sharp tool is a safe and efficient tool.

shovel
Shovels and Hoes: Secure the tool in a vise. Use a 10-inch flat metal file (a mill file) to sharpen the cutting edge, pushing the file in one direction away from you. Follow the original bevel of the tool.
pruners
Pruners and Loppers: Use a smaller, specialized sharpening stone or a diamond file. Sharpen only the beveled edge of the blade, again moving in one smooth direction.

🛡️ Step 3: Oil and Protect

The final step is to protect your tools from rust and rot during winter storage.

Oil Metal Parts

Wipe all metal surfaces with a cloth lightly soaked in a lubricating oil like linseed oil or even motor oil. This creates a protective barrier against moisture.

Care for Wooden Handles

Inspect wooden handles for cracks or splinters. Sand them smooth with medium-grit sandpaper, then apply a coat of boiled linseed oil to condition the wood and prevent it from drying out.

Taking care of your tools is a rewarding task that pays off next spring. For larger landscape equipment maintenance or professional groundskeeping services, contact the team at The Box Advantage Group. We keep our equipment—and your property—in top shape.

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