Garden Tools Maintenance Checklist
4.8/5 with 100 votes
Table of Contents
Introduction
After a blissful and tiring day working in the garden, you may be tempted to simply toss your tools in the garage or even leave them outside to weather and wear. Stop! Your garden tools work as hard as you do to keep your lawn and garden looking their best. The least you can do is repay them with a little TLC. Here’s a garden tools maintenance checklist that will keep you, your tools, and your garden happy.
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Toggle Everyday Maintenance status
Everyday Maintenance
Toggle Remove soil and dirt from your tools. status
Remove soil and dirt from your tools.
Use a garden trowel to loosen caked-on dirt and give them a spray with the hose.
Toggle Oil your cutting tools. status
Oil your cutting tools.
Keep your loppers, shears, and pruners sharp and at the ready. At the end of each use, wipe them down with a dry rag, then give them a spray of penetrating oil like WD-40.
Toggle Prevent rust. status
Prevent rust.
Fill a five-gallon bucket with sand, followed by a quart of vegetable oil. When you are finished in the garden, plunge your clean shovels and hoes into the sand several times. You can even store your shovels right in the oily sand.
Toggle Store your tools in a shed or garage. status
Store your tools in a shed or garage.
Do not leave them out in the sun and rain. They will deteriorate very quickly.
Toggle Springtime Maintenance status
Springtime Maintenance
Toggle Sharpen your tools. status
Sharpen your tools.
Sharp tools make all the difference. Here’s what you’ll need to keep them cutting.
Toggle Wire brush and steel wool. status
Wire brush and steel wool.
Use these first to remove stubborn dirt and rust.
Toggle Whetstone for sharpening pruners. status
Whetstone for sharpening pruners.
Drip a few drops of oil onto the stone and with a curved motion, rub the sharp edge of the cutting blade against the stone.
Toggle Various files for sharpening shovels and hoes. status
Various files for sharpening shovels and hoes.
These are called bastard files and come in many sizes. Start with medium grit and move onto fine grit as the sharpening progresses. Secure your tool in a vise for safety. Push the file across the blade and away from your body at a 45 degree angle.
Toggle Wire brush and steel wool. status
Wire brush and steel wool.
Use these first to remove stubborn dirt and rust.
Toggle Whetstone for sharpening pruners. status
Whetstone for sharpening pruners.
Drip a few drops of oil onto the stone and with a curved motion, rub the sharp edge of the cutting blade against the stone.
Toggle Various files for sharpening shovels and hoes. status
Various files for sharpening shovels and hoes.
These are called bastard files and come in many sizes. Start with medium grit and move onto fine grit as the sharpening progresses. Secure your tool in a vise for safety. Push the file across the blade and away from your body at a 45 degree angle.
Toggle Lubricate your tools. status
Lubricate your tools.
Once your tools are sharp and at the ready, give them a spray with vegetable oil.
Toggle Tune up your lawn mower status
Tune up your lawn mower
Toggle Replace the spark plug, oil, and filter. status
Replace the spark plug, oil, and filter.
Use the manufacturer’s guidelines for instructions specific to your mower.
Toggle Sharpen the blade. status
Sharpen the blade.
Remove the blade and sharpen as detailed for shovels and hoes above. Before you reattach the blade to your mower, check the balance to make sure both sides are weighted equally.
Toggle Fill with gas. status
Fill with gas.
Be sure to use ethanol-free gas to extend the life of your mower.
Toggle Replace the spark plug, oil, and filter. status
Replace the spark plug, oil, and filter.
Use the manufacturer’s guidelines for instructions specific to your mower.
Toggle Sharpen the blade. status
Sharpen the blade.
Remove the blade and sharpen as detailed for shovels and hoes above. Before you reattach the blade to your mower, check the balance to make sure both sides are weighted equally.
Toggle Fill with gas. status
Fill with gas.
Be sure to use ethanol-free gas to extend the life of your mower.
Toggle Fall maintenance status
Fall maintenance
Toggle Examine your tools. status
Examine your tools.
If cared for properly, your garden tools will last a lifetime, but it’s still wise to check your tools at the end of the season to see if any need replacing.
Toggle Maintain your tool handles. status
Maintain your tool handles.
First sand your handles with medium-grit sandpaper to get rid of splinters. Then, coat liberally with linseed oil to preserve the wood throughout the winter.
Toggle Put away your hoses. status
Put away your hoses.
If you live in an area that sees freezing temperatures, you must drain your hoses before the cold weather sets in. Store them in the garage for the winter to help prolong their life.
Toggle Run your mower dry. status
Run your mower dry.
Gasoline does not overwinter well. Either use your mower for mulching fall leaves, or run it dry before storing it for the winter.
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Presented by:
Tara Schatz
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Details
Expert Garden Tool Maintenance Tips
- Do not use motor oil on your garden tools. Many guides and websites suggest pouring motor oil over your bucket full of sand to keep tools rust free. Motor oil on your tools means motor oil on the food you grow.
- If you need to replace tools, wait until late fall or winter, when garden centers have end-of-the-year sales.
- Ask a Master Gardener. Many communities throughout the United States have volunteer Master Gardeners that are available to answer all of your gardening questions.
Who it's for
This Garden Tools Maintenance Checklist is for anyone who wants a simple, practical way to get things done without missing steps.
- Avoid forgetting - keep all your Garden Tools Maintenance essentials in one place (external memory)
- Save time - start from a proven Garden Tools Maintenance structure instead of a blank page
- Stay on track - track progress, come back later, and keep momentum
- Coordinate with others - share the list and divide responsibilities
- Learn the process - follow the steps in a sensible order, even if it's your first time
How to use it
How to use this Garden Tools Maintenance Checklist
- Save Garden Tools Maintenance Checklist to your free Checklist account so your progress is saved and synced across devices.
- Customize it in the app: remove anything that does not apply, then add your own details for Garden Tools Maintenance (dates, sizes, addresses, notes).
- If others are involved, invite them to collaborate and divide responsibilities.
- Work through the list: check items off as you go, and set reminders for time-sensitive steps.
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Scores 4.80 with 100 votes