Brooklyn Queens Land Trust

Tool Care

Jul 11, 2008

Sustainability and Garden Tools

Organize your gardening equipment so that it is easily accessible. A quick cleaning will help keep your garden equipment in the best shape possible. Regular maintenance will extend the life of your tools and increase their productivity. Start by taking stock of your equipment. Remove any equipment that is beyond repair or isn't useful in your garden.

Shovels, Spades and Hoes
Clean all soil and residue off of the tools; wire brushes work well. When using water to clean tools, make sure they?’re dry before putting them away. Once the tools are clean, wipe them down with WD-40 oil and an old rag. If there is rust on any of your metal tools, soak them in white vinegar for several hours to help release the rust. Be sure to check the wooden handles. If the wood has splintered, give the handle a light sanding with sand paper, then rub the wood with linseed oil.

A small bucket filled with a combination of 1/2 quart of motor oil and sand in the bucket makes for a quick and easy way to store spades and trowels. Put the garden tools in the mixture, which will clean and condition them. When you remove a tool, wipe it clean with a cloth.

Pruning Tools and Loppers
Pruning tools and loppers need attention. Spray WD-40 oil at the joints and look at the the blade(s). If the blades are sticky, clean with alcohol. Be careful when cleaning the blades (prevent accidents - pay attention to avoid cuts and don't smoke while using alcohol)! After the blades are clean, sharpen them using a whet stone or file. Make sure that you do not miss any part of the blade, by using a dark marker to color the blade, and sharpen until all the color is gone.

Power Equipment
See to it that your lawn mower, edger and tiller in top condition get a full tune-up once every year. Taking proper care will extend the life of the machine, improve the stability of the engine, reduce emissions and reduce fuel consumption. A proper tune-up includes cleaning the body of the machine, changing the oil, spark plugs and air filters, lubricating the machine and sharpening the blades. To make the effects of your tune-up last, clean the equipment after every use and continue to keep an eye on bolts or screws that can be loosened from the engine's vibrations. This will increase the life of your machine.

Flower Pots and Seed Trays
Before starting new seeds and container gardens, use only clean pots and seed trays. Clean containers make sure to avoid last season's diseases and mold. If you left soil in the pot from your last plant, begin by emptying the pots of any soil and plant remnants. Next, prepare a solution using nine-parts hot water and one-part bleach. Use a stiff brush to clean the pots with the solution. If the containers are extremely dirty, consider letting them soak for 20 minutes in the solution. When you've finished scrubbing or soaking, rinse the pots well to remove the bleach.


Information in this article comes from various gardening and greening sources and is intended for educational purposes ONLY.