Tools put away dirty and damp in December come out of the shed in March pitted with rust and blunt as a spoon. A single session at the bench now means everything is ready when the first sowing weekend arrives.
Clean off the season
Knock and scrape the caked soil off spades and forks, then wash and dry them. A wire brush shifts the stubborn rust that has already started. Sap on secateur blades comes off with a rag and a little white spirit.
Sharpen the cutting edges
A sharp edge makes the tool safer, because you push less hard and slip less often. Run a sharpening stone or a flat file along the bevel of spades, hoes, secateurs and shears.
- Follow the existing angle rather than inventing a new one.
- Sharpen only the bevelled side of bypass secateurs.
- A keen spade slices through roots and saves your back.
Oil against rust
Wipe every metal surface with an oily rag before it goes away. Old engine oil, linseed oil or a spray lubricant all work. Wooden handles last longer rubbed with linseed oil too, which stops them drying and splintering.
Store them properly
Hang tools on a rack rather than standing them in a damp corner where the heads sit in condensation. Take the chance to tip out and sweep the shed, check the mower over, and make a note of anything that needs replacing before spring.