Clean garden tools work better

Of course, in the ideal world, we would all scrape our shovel and hoe blades clean after each use. In the real world, though, tools go back in place as quickly as they were removed, dirty.

Start by giving the blades of all gardening tools their one thorough cleaning for the year. Rub sap from the blades of pruning tools with steel wool dipped in a little oil or paint thinner. Scrape off chunks of soil caked onto once-shiny metal surfaces of shovels with a narrow putty knife. Sand off thin patches of dirt with medium-grit sandpaper or steel wool. Or soak a tool blade in water for a few hours, then attack it with a wire brush.

The goal in cleaning is function, not beauty. Clean, smooth blades easily penetrate and shed soil or cut into stems. After cleaning and smoothing the business ends of your tools, give them a light coating of oil to fend off rust.

Turn your attention, next, to tool handles. Are they sound and firmly attached to the working heads? You can purchase replacement handles for those damaged beyond repair.

Check the screws on any handle held in place with one or two set screws at its base, tightening or replacing them, as needed.

Check the wedges at the heads of axes and mattocks, and pound in another, if needed, to tighten the head on its handle.

The surface of any wooden handle probably needs some attention. Smooth handles are less likely to result in either blisters or splinters, so sand rough handles. Once the handles are smooth, seal out moisture with oil or polyurethane.

You surely weren’t thinking of leaving those clean, smooth tools out in the garden now, exposed to rain and snow? Put them away for the winter. Each of your spruced-up tools warrants its own special place in your garage or toolshed, either on the floor, leaning against a wall, or, even better, hanging from the wall.

Once you’ve cleaned and put your tools away, take a moment to step back and admire your work. A wall hung neatly with clean garden tools can be as pretty as the flower garden in summer.