by Sammy Stein

Created on: January 06, 2010

Garden tools are the mainstay of any good gardener and to be effective they need yearly checking and maintenance. Well maintained tools can last a lifetime  and it is well worth taking the time before the real season begins in the garden to carry out a few basic checks and jobs.

First check your digging tools including spades, trowels and hoes. Check the handles first to make sure they are smooth and will not give you a splinter. Oil them with teak or furniture oil to season them and make them less likely to split or become too dry over the drier parts of the year. Make sure the join between blade and handle is secure and repair any which have become wobbly. Check the blades and make sure they are sharp. Digging tools, after all, need to be able to slice through soil easily, making the job easier for you. You can buy sharpeners for garden tools from DIY or garden centre shops and these are a good investment as it can make the difference between throwing a digging tool away or having them last for many years.

Next check your cutting tools like your shears, mower, axe, lopper and secateurs. Make sure the blades are sharp and clean. Smooth off any small nicks with metal sand paper or a cleaning tool and sharpen the blades. Check the springs on loppers and secateurs to ensure they are right and the tool will open and close easily. Oil any joints which are sticky to ensure a smooth and easy operation.

Check the blades of your mower are sharp and if it is a powered one, get it checked by a qualified electrical engineer. This may cost a little but it is worth it as mowers often get thrown out when they are perfectly redeemable. If you use a push along mower, check and oil the joints and wheel ends to ensure smooth running and sharpen the blades.

For all cutting tools, a little oil along the blade itself will add protection against water and rust and this can be done after each use as well as when preparing them for the season.

Next check accessories like rakes. Spring tined rakes need checking to ensure the handles are smooth and oiled, the join between handle and tines is good and that the tines are straight and angled properly. Over use, these can become uneven and bent so check now and straighten any or get them replaced. Garden rakes need to be checked to ensure the head is securely fastened to the handle and it is advisable to oil the wooden handled ones now too.

Other garden tools such as the watering can may be checked now for a complete job. Check they have no holes, that the handles are intact and oil any hinges if necessary. Also check your garden hose, string holders and small things like dibbers to make sure they are in good condition.

Checking garden tools now will mean that when it comes to the real work in the coming season you will know your tools are suited to the job for which you got them and will not let you down.

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