How to Care for Garden Tools

If you have invested in some nice garden tools, a little yearly maintenance goes a long way in making them last a lifetime.  Here’s a couple of steps on keeping them rust and corrosion free:

1. If you don’t plan on using them throughout the winter, grab a big bucket and fill it with sand.  Spray the sand liberally with WD-40 or pour a 1/2 gallon of mineral oil over the top and let it soak through.  Remove any dirt clods from your garden tools and plunge them into the mixture.  Allow them to spend the winter in this sandy bath in the garage or shed.  Come spring, pull them out and wipe them down with a cloth.  They will be clean and rust free.
2. Maintain wooden handled garden tools by rubbing them with linseed oil once a year.  {Otherwise, they split and crack over time.}
3. Keep a bucket of plain old sand in your garden area.  Each time you are done with your tools, stick them into the sand mixture–it will help them stay dry, and you’ll know exactly where to find them when you need them.
4. To keep pruning shears, etc. in working order, spray them with cooking oil.  It will make for smooth, happy pruning.

Pretty easy, right?  How about you, do you do anything special to make sure your garden tools go the distance?

~Mavis

Want more cool uses for WD-40?  Click HERE.