What to do on a rainy day…

I love the rain, especially how it smells when it settles the dust, but curling up with a good book and hearing the rain against the window is pretty perfect, too. And at this time of the year, rain is a gift for the garden.  Soon after, everything looks green and clean.

This week, however, I wasn’t reading.  I did a garden chore I wish I had done in the fall…cleaning and sharpening garden hand tools.  By the end of the garden season in fall, pruners usually show signs of wear and tear and are probably dirty with sap, etc.

 All winter, I walked past the secateurs on the shelf in the garage, silently reprimanding myself for allowing them to get rusty and dull.

We had a rainy day this week, and there was no excuse to put it off any longer. Soon, I will be pruning dead, dry branches and cutting back rose canes, and I want to make crisp, clean cuts.

 

 

First, I filled the sink with hot, soapy water, letting the pruners soak for about half an hour.   The rust was brushed off with a small wire brush.  You could also use steel wool.  On the stubborn stains, I put dish soap directly on the blades and scrubbed with the brush, and for the most part, the blades came clean.

If there is persistent rust, soak overnight in vinegar.  Another option would be to make a baking soda paste and clean off with a wire brush.

 

 

 

 

Once the secateurs were clean, I sharpened them.

 

 

Move a file (rasp) along the bevelled edge of the curved pruner blade towards the cutting edge,  always in the same direction (do not run the file back and forth as this will damage the blade).    You will notice the blade will turn a brighter colour.

Once the blade is sharp, give the shears a light coating of oil.  This will help protect them from rust, and the moving parts will glide smoothly.  I used WD-40, but 3-in-one oil works well; even vegetable oil can be used.

To prevent spreading disease, sterilizing after each use is a good practice, especially when trimming boxwood. Wipe with a cloth and rubbing alcohol.

Now that this job is done, I will work on the shovels and edger using the same process.

Over the years, I’ve gone through many pairs of secateurs.  I’ve found that higher quality items do last longer; however, if they aren’t taken care of properly, they won’t last long either.

 

Now I’m ready for some sunny days!

xox Judy❤️

 

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