There’s nothing worse than an inefficient tool when an important garden job needs to be done. If you do not maintain your garden tools they will go rusty and blunt and then will need to be replaced. It’s an inconvenience to stop your activity and go buy another. You dont need to spand heaps of money as it is a simple process. Continual maintenance will help you to save money and time with your gardening tools. The article below will give you some handy and helpful tips to keeping your tools working well. The following tips include the how and why of sharpening and cleaning your garden tools.

Cleaning Your Garden Tools

You want your tools to stay clean and looking good. If tools are dirty, it can make them dull. It may also make them rust quicker. So what you’ll want to do is clean excess dirt and rust off of them with water. It helps to dry and oil your tools after use to keep them in good condition. Scrape and wipe off extra stubborn dirt and rust. Cleaning your tools can be done with an old towel. You can also clean off some dirt after use (if they don’t need a thorough cleaning) by wiping them through and on grass. Just drying them off wont be enough all of the time. If the hinges on your tools are squeaking then bolts should be tightened and a lubricant applied. Any lubricating spray will work fine. This helps ensure that rusty bolts and joints don’t break and work smoothly.

Storing Your Garden Tools

You’ll want to store your tools properly to keep them safe from harm, theft, rusting, and other things. If you uncaringly toss your tools to the side when you’re done with them, there’s a possibility of breaking or losing them. So what you want to do is have a specific safe and dry place to store your tools, such as a barn, basement, or garden shed. Always try to keep your tools organized and stored where they are easily accessible. Always remember when you have finished, clean the tool and put it back where it belongs. If you leave tools sitting in bad positions, they can break or bend, and they won’t work properly. Always keep your tools in a sfe placed locked away, like a garden shed. Put them in a place where you know they are, and only you have access to them. Garden sheds have some great storage systems and are probably the best way to store your tools.

Sharpening Dull Garden Tools

Dull tools don’t work as well as they should. Not only will they not do the job efficiently, they can ruin plants, yards, and other things. They can make bad or dull cuts, or not make cuts at all. If you have a dull tool, you don’t have to buy another one. Your tools need just need a simple sharpen. It is imperative that you clean your tools before you sharpen them. This will help them sharpen better and it will keep your tools for sharpening safe from dirt and rust as well. You can use sharpening blocks and stones to sharpen things such as knives and scissors.Knives and scissors can also be sharpened with a file but you will need a different file for each utensil.You can use a file or sharpening stone for sharpening your hoe.You can also use sharpening stones or metal files for sharpening things such as shovels and rakes.A file is a great tool for sharpening your tools.

Whatever size your garden is, it’s obvious that gardening tools can help make maintaining your garden much easier.  But there are so many tools you can buy that it becomes difficult to know which tools you really will use, particularly if you’re new to gardening.  It’s tempting to avoid making a mistake by just buying everything, but that just means you’ll be left with no money and a storage area full of things you don’t need.

So which tools are worth buying?  Gardening involves shifting dirt around, so a digging tool is always a useful choice.  If you’re mostly working in pots or containers, then a sturdy trowel is a worthwhile investment.  A shovel is better if you’re going to be moving large amounts of soil around, or to assist you with planting trees, vegetables and flowers.  It might be tempting to save yourself some effort by choosing a power tiller or plough, but unless you have a very large garden, they probably involve more expense and trouble than they’re worth.

Another helpful tool to buy is a rake or hoe.  Again, if you’re going to mostly be working in smaller areas, a pot-sized equivalent is a good idea.  These tools are used to smooth soil and remove weeds.  This sort of work can be done by hand, but it’s simpler with the right tool, particularly in a large garden.

Although they’re not technically a tool, good gardening gloves are also useful.  It may be a good idea to have a couple of pairs – some heavy duty ones for rough work, and some thinner ones when you need to feel what you’re doing. 

Once your garden is established, then at least one pruning tool is a necessity.  Depending on the size of your plants, choose anything from pruners or secateurs through to large tree loppers.  It’s worth spending a little more to buy a solid, reliable pruning tool, otherwise it may be ruined the first time you try to cut anything with it.

A few more tools that you can probably survive without, but will make life easier depending on the size of your garden, include:

- Wheelbarrow
– Garden fork
– Watering can
– Hose & hose reel
– Rake

Of course, it’s not hard to choose cheap tools, but if you plan to keep your tools for a long period of time, think of buying good quality tools as an investment.  Cheap tools usually don’t work as well, and are often less durable and easier to break.  Happy gardening!

To get more information about buying the right gardening tools, check out http://www.gardeningzoneonline.com