After every use
- Wipe off sap, dirt and plant matter — sap hardens and makes blades stick
- Dry the blades completely to stop rust
- Put a few drops of light oil on the blades and the pivot
- Store tools somewhere dry, not left out on the lawn or in a damp shed
Signs your garden tools need sharpening
- Secateurs crush or tear stems instead of cutting cleanly
- Loppers need two or three squeezes to get through a branch
- Hedge shears fold leaves over instead of cutting them
- An axe bounces off wood rather than biting in
- There are nicks or chips along the cutting edge
Best time to sharpen
Late winter, before the spring pruning season, is a great time to get secateurs, loppers and hedge shears sharpened so they're ready when you need them. Heavy users — gardeners, landscapers and orchardists — may need tools done several times a year.
What I sharpen
I sharpen secateurs, loppers, hedge shears, pruners, axes and other garden tools using water-cooled equipment for clean, accurate edges. Garden tool sharpening starts from $15. Drop-off is by appointment in Campbelltown NSW, and smaller tools like secateurs can be posted in from anywhere in Australia.