In my defense, I don't get soil sticking to spades, forks, trowels etc. They're stainless steel and the sandy soil brushes right off so they take no cleaning other than a quick brush off by hand before I take my gloves off.
Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
I do that too @JennyJ, one of the benefits of having sandy soil! It’s interesting to see that there are some very disciplined gardeners here, I thought there would be! I keep my best secateurs and pruning saw cleaned and oiled and just knock or wipe the digging tools with a glove before storing them. I’ve recently starting putting all the long handled tools in a cleaned plastic dustbin, without the lid, it keeps everything from falling over! All the bamboo canes are also kept tidy in an unused tall kitchen bin, now in the garage. Looks quite good with the other bin in matching black!
Hi, fellow gardeners. Just for fun, I asked this question to the ubiquitous / fashionable ChatGPT AI and here's the judicious advice it provided ... in the twinkling of an eye.
Question.- Gardening Tool Maintenance and Storage - What do you do?
ChatGPT answered.- Proper maintenance and storage of gardening tools are important to keep them functioning properly and to extend their lifespan. Here are some tips to help you maintain and store your gardening tools:
Clean tools after use: After each use, wipe down your tools with a clean cloth to remove any dirt, debris, or sap. This will help prevent rust and other forms of corrosion.
Oil moving parts: If your tools have moving parts, such as a pruning saw or shears, oil them after each use to keep them functioning smoothly.
Sharpen blades: Regularly sharpen the blades of your tools, such as pruning shears, mowers, and hoes, to keep them cutting cleanly and efficiently.
Store tools properly: Store your tools in a dry, protected area, such as a garden shed or garage. Keep them off the ground to prevent rust, and hang them up or store them in a tool rack to save space and prevent damage.
Repair damaged tools: If a tool is damaged, repair it promptly to prevent further damage and to keep it in working order.
By following these tips, you can keep your gardening tools in good condition and ready for use whenever you need them.
I clean most of the mud off and hang them in the shed. I cleaned my secateurs last year but only because they were gacky. I keep meaning to take my blunt push mower blades off and sharpen them.. I'll get round to it this year! I do clean rasps and saw blades because it's necessary, and easy, lol! I don't buy expensive tools, but they last for years.
I do have a shed where all large tools are hung up and other items go on a shelf or hanging canvas ‘organiser’. They have a basic wipe if muddy, an occasional spray of lubricant, and definitely aren’t sharpened regularly enough.
Day to day, I have a trug with my favourite secateurs, some gloves, my only surviving trowel and a pointy stick (for jobs that need a pointy stick - which are surprisingly numerous).
Life's too short @Papi Jo. The one time I had a problem with disease was fuchsia qall mite. Practised a little hygiene then. Once it had gone, I went back to my old ways. I'm building up my plants' immune systems😇 PS. I have been known to use WD40 on loppers and secateurs and saws.
I have a few good habits left over from when I was paid for gardening (when it mattered that my secateurs were sharp enough not to damage the clients' roses etc), and I got into the habit of cleaning my digging implements when I'd been working in the park, which had Phytophthora ramorum (sudden oak death) which I didn't want to introduce into my own garden. I still sharpen my secateurs and loppers regularly, but other tools get a quick scrape to remove mud, then they disappear into the shed. I'm supposed to be putting up hooks etc to hold the spades and things, but I'm too busy gardening...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
My former horse hoof trimmer gave me a used rasp to practice with. It eventually got rusty so I cleaned & sharpened it, and kept it wrapped it an oily rag, it stayed perfectly clean despite regular use in all weathers and mud, and being kept in a damp outbuilding.
All metal tools can be kept the same way, and WD40 is an essential @B3, as is a pointy stick @AuntyRach 😁
That's a good tip about WD40 @B3 and @Slow-worm, thank you, I'll get a fresh can! I've never had a pointy stick in my armoury @AuntyRach, maybe I should give it a try instead of using the closed tip of my secateurs! An old kitchen knife is also useful for weeds, especially in lawns.
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ChatGPT answered.- Proper maintenance and storage of gardening tools are important to keep them functioning properly and to extend their lifespan. Here are some tips to help you maintain and store your gardening tools:
Clean tools after use: After each use, wipe down your tools with a clean cloth to remove any dirt, debris, or sap. This will help prevent rust and other forms of corrosion.
Oil moving parts: If your tools have moving parts, such as a pruning saw or shears, oil them after each use to keep them functioning smoothly.
Sharpen blades: Regularly sharpen the blades of your tools, such as pruning shears, mowers, and hoes, to keep them cutting cleanly and efficiently.
Store tools properly: Store your tools in a dry, protected area, such as a garden shed or garage. Keep them off the ground to prevent rust, and hang them up or store them in a tool rack to save space and prevent damage.
Repair damaged tools: If a tool is damaged, repair it promptly to prevent further damage and to keep it in working order.
By following these tips, you can keep your gardening tools in good condition and ready for use whenever you need them.
I keep meaning to take my blunt push mower blades off and sharpen them.. I'll get round to it this year!
I do clean rasps and saw blades because it's necessary, and easy, lol!
I don't buy expensive tools, but they last for years.
The one time I had a problem with disease was fuchsia qall mite. Practised a little hygiene then. Once it had gone, I went back to my old ways.
I'm building up my plants' immune systems😇
PS. I have been known to use WD40 on loppers and secateurs and saws.
All metal tools can be kept the same way, and WD40 is an essential @B3, as is a pointy stick @AuntyRach 😁