Knowhow-Now Article

Home Gardening: Tips on Tools and Equipment Maintenance

By Bob Johnson

Bob Johnson

Home gardening would not be possible without all the right tools and equipment. Whether you’re just a beginner or an expert gardener, having the right gardening supplies can help you make the job easier and ultimately help you reap the full benefits of your labor and investment. For these reasons, new and experienced gardeners are advised to give proper care to their tools and maintain them to the best of their ability.


Before we proceed to home gardening tips on proper tool care, first you need to know how important it is to obtain gardening tools which are easy to maintain and won’t give you bouts of headache during your gardening activity. Investing in tools of high quality will bring you and your garden a multitude of benefits that you will never find in poorly constructed equipment.

When purchasing gardening tools such as shovels, spades, rakes, hoes, and trowels, check if the handle is sturdy and if is tightly attached to the metal, plastic, or wooden body. Cutting tools, on the other hand, should have sharp edges, removable blades, as well as adjustable mechanisms. For powered machines, they should be easy to use and clean.

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If you’re a novice or tried-and-tested gardener who doesn’t know, want to know, or needs to know how to care for your gardening equipment, here are some helpful home gardening tips that will help you with tools maintenance.

  1. Immediately clean your tools after use by brushing off soil, sand, grass, and other kinds of dirt on your digging equipment. For most tools, a rag or a whisk broom can effectively do the job.
  2. Keep you wooden-made tools in perfect condition by sanding them regularly and applying linseed oil or mineral oil to wooden handles.
  3. Rubbing linseed oil or mineral oil to metal equipment ensures smooth operation, retard the formation of rust and keep any movable parts working properly.
  4. Prevent the formation of rust by using products that provide a protective covering on your tools. You can use convenient aerosols such as Boeshield T-9 or any similar products.
  5. For tools already suffering from rust, you can use rust-removing products such as Evapo-rust. Non-toxic, non-polluting, and organic rust-removing are preferred.
  6. Be sure to sharpen blades of saws, pruners, shovels, hoes, loppers, weeders, and other cutting equipment regularly. Diamond files are easier to use than whetstones. When sharpening your tools, be sure to push the diamond file in one direction until the edges become shiny. Applying a small amount of grease will protect the tool against corrosion.
  7. Gardening equipment and supplies that come in contact with plant sap (such as shears and secateurs) can transmit fungi and viruses to other plants. To avoid this, clean and sterilize such tools between plants and trees. You can use alcohol, bleach, and household cleaners to disinfect your tools.
  8. Mechanical tools such as chain saws and hedge trimmers must be cleaned regularly with kerosene or petrol and coated with oil before storage.
  9. Electric or battery-powered tools must undergo regular tune-ups and maintenance according to manufacturer’s instruction.
  10. Clean or replace the air filter of your lawn mower once or twice a year. Replace paper filters when they are dirty.
  11. Allow your gardening supplies to dry completely prior to storage to prevent rusting.
  12. Store your tools properly using hangars, garden tools organizers, tool racks, tool cart, or any other storage materials especially designed to protect your valuable gardening equipment. Try to be organized. Don’t just throw all your gardening equipment into your garage. Take time to arrange them for your safety and the safety of your family.

It is not surprising to see rusted gardening tools and equipment in the corners of a garden. Supplies used in gardening are among the most neglected items in a household. Even the most expensive, first-rate tools will soon become useless if not properly and adequately maintained. If you’re a serious gardener, you know that proper tool care is essential in maintaining a garden. Following the aforementioned home gardening tips ensures a productive gardening activity. Every gardener must give attention to their valuable pieces of gardening equipment. If you don’t care about your tools, how can you actually care for your plants?


When purchasing gardening tools such as shovels, spades, rakes, hoes, and trowels, check if the handle is sturdy and if is tightly attached to the metal, plastic, or wooden body. Cutting tools, on the other hand, should have sharp edges, removable blades, as well as adjustable mechanisms.

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