It’s important care for your garden tools, because we want them to continue to perform at their best. It’s easily done, but try not to leave your tool outside. Instead, store them away after use in a dry environment. Even in dry weather if tools are left outside, they will be exposed to moisture from wet grass and dew. Which can therefore cause them to rust.
Looking after your garden tools
Cleaning and drying your garden tools after use will keep them in good working order. Always remove all of the soil from your digging tools after each use by taking the dirt off and ensuring they are kept dry.
Never put your tools away wet. Allow them to dry completely before storing to prevent rusting and handle rot. Perhaps a few times a year, if you have wooden handled tools, apply a light coating of linseed oil to help prevent the wood from drying out and cracking. If a wooden handle is very dirty, remove as much of the soil as possible with a stiff brush. If you need to use water, gently wet the handle with a damp cloth, making sure that you don’t soak the wood, as this may cause the grain to lift and the handle to swell. Wipe off as much of the water as possible and leave to dry out.
We also advice that you thoroughly clean any tools which have been used for chemical applications. Fertilisers and other chemicals will rapidly corrode any metal. Remember to clean out your watering can too if this has been used for chemicals.
