Homegrown: Sharpen up for Spring

Lisa Slattery, Linn County Master Gardener, offers timely advice for gardeners eager for spring:

This week's warmer weather is a flat out tease – it's just not spring yet.  In fact, I think February and March are two of the toughest months for Iowa gardeners who are dying to get outside and dig in the dirt.  I hate to say it – but we're still a good two months away from warmer temperatures actually sticking around.  But if you're itching to do something now, there's probably a big job that is awaiting you in your garage or garden shed….disguised as garden tools. 

 Clean and sharpen your garden tools.  Tools should really be cleaned after       

every use but if you're like me, they just end up back in the garage and used over and over.  Even neglected tools like some of mine can be saved.  If you still have some caked on soil, you'll probably have to scrub that off with a stiff brush and soapy water.  Once the soil is off, use some clean steel wool to bring back the smooth, shiny surface of your shovel blades. You can try using WD-40 or naval jelly to remove any rust spots. 

 Once they're clean, get out your sharpening file for the edges of your tools.  Apply the file at a slight angle over the original beveled edge and sweep from one side to the other, pushing the file along the edge in a one-way stroke away from the blade.  Make sure you remove any small “burrs” that are created from sharpening on the back side.  Once sharpened, wipe or spray your tools with a petroleum-based lubricant like WD-40, which will help to stop rust as well. 

 If you have a lot of sap build-up on pruning shears, try turpentine to remove it.  With some tools you'll be able to take apart the blades.  These are best sharpened with a ceramic sharpening stone, again held at an angle pushed across the edge away from the blade.  WD-40 can also be used on these as well to help remove friction between moving parts.    

Cleaning and sharpening garden tools is not my favorite task, but it does beat shoveling snow.  If you keep your tools clean and sharp you can keep many of them for a long, long time.  One of my very favorite pair of pruning shears is a pair that my grandfather used.  If he were alive today he'd be 111 years-old. Unlike me, Grandpa Frank always cleaned his tools after every use.  His garden and yard was spectacular.

When you are digging and dividing those nice healthy hostas this spring you'll be happy that you took the time now to sharpen your tool blades. 

If your tools are already clean and sharp, sweep all the winter sand out of your garage and pick up a good gardening book and think spring!