Master Gardener: Get Those Garden Tools Clean And Shiny Before Spring Planting Time

Are your garden tools ready for spring? Now is the time to clean and sharpen them before you need them in your garden.

Ideally, you would have already done all of this when you weeded the garden last fall. But let's face it, there's always something else that needs your attention before the end of the year.

In the new year, resolve to be more organized and put your tools at the top of your list

If the weather is nice, you can do it outside, but during the winter months, a garage or basement is a better choice. Also pack hand tools and long handles.

Remove all debris before starting this project. Yes, you know you should have when you're done digging the garden, but it was cold and wet so you put them away with the intention of coming back. Make today your day.

Remove rust from your equipment

Don't be surprised if some equipment rusts. Rust shortens the useful life of a tool, so let's discuss rust removal first.

You will need a bucket of white vinegar and water in a ratio of 3:1. Add your rust remover and let it sit for a few hours or overnight. To remove tools from the vinegar mixture, wear rubber gloves, rinse them with fresh water, and dry them with a kitchen towel. Be sure to wear gloves, otherwise your hands and nails will turn black.

The next step is to clean the metal. It is important to wear safety glasses because of the small, uncontrolled flying pieces of metal.

Use a wire brush, toothbrush or steel wool to clean the metal. You can avoid manual cleaning if you have a wire brush on your drill. This speeds up the work.

Are your tools sharp?

The next step is to sharpen your garden tools. Obviously, not all tools are created equal. Some have straight edges, others have curved edges. Hand tools are shorter than shovels, trowels, and long handles.

Each may require a slightly different approach. For example, knives, scissors and cleavers should have sharper blades than shovels and pipes.

You will need a milling or burr file, a sharpening stone, lubricant, a clean towel and safety glasses.

Sharpen knives, scissors and harvesting knives with a whetstone. Soak the wheat in water before use. Please note that one side has a fine grain and the other has a coarse grain. Start on the rough side. Run the edge of the blade at a 20 degree angle on the whetstone, always working in the same direction and from left to right.

Do this on both sides of the blade, then repeat the steps on the wheel with a finer blade. During this process, it may be necessary to apply water to the surface of the stone. Dry the blade and assess the sharpness.

Larger tools should be bolted or bolted to the front. Use a plate or sand stone to sharpen only the inner edge of the spade, as it only has one bevel.

Move the file or whetstone away from the edge of the blade, maintaining a 45-degree angle.

A farmer's file is a useful tool for sharpening axes because it has a rough side and a fine side. Only sharpen the bottom of the blade as it only has one bevel.

Although pruners have two sides of the blade, you only need to sharpen the diagonal side.

The job is done

After the metal surface is free of rust, apply a light coat of oil to the tool. This prevents future rusting. Any type of oil is acceptable.

To prevent drying and prolong service life, wooden handles should be coated with linseed oil.

Store your tools in a dry place and make sure that the tips of the knives do not touch the ground.

This year, be sure to clean caked-on soil and plant debris from your tools after each use. This not only prevents the transmission of soil-borne diseases, but also reduces the risk of rusting from soil moisture, plant debris or mud.

Put tools back when you're done so you can easily find them next time

Christine Michael is a volunteer master gardener in the Sandusky and Ottawa area .

This article originally appeared in the Fremont News-Messenger. Master Gardener. Dust off fall soil and prepare tools in spring.

Clean rusty garden tools with just one ingredient.