Let's be honest: There isn't always enough time in the busy autumn to send the garden tools into hibernation freshly cleaned, disinfected and checked for functionality. The grass from the last cut is stuck to the lawn mower, the spade has become dull and the rose shears are stuck. Not a good start to the new gardening year. That's why it's now time for spring cleaning in the appliance cupboard.
What does spring cleaning for garden tools include?
Spring cleaning for garden tools includes cleaning, disinfecting, sharpening dull blades and knives, and servicing lawn mowers. This increases the service life and effectiveness of the devices and protects plants from germs and harmful fungi.
Why do garden tools need to be cleaned and disinfected?
Rust and dirt form the optimal basis for germs. If you cut plants back with dirty scissors, they will get into the plant through the open wound and can cause massive damage.
- Thoroughly remove any dirt from the metal parts of the garden tools.
- Stubborn residue can be removed with a wire brush.
- You can tackle light rust with steel wool.
- Afterwards, wash the devices with soapy water and disinfect them.
- You can care for roughened wooden parts with a mixture of white spirit and linseed oil.
Sharpening dull knives and scissors
Dull garden tools have a hard time cutting through plant tissue. Frayed edges are created, which represent the optimal entry point for harmful fungi. Therefore, sharpen garden knives regularly, depending on the model on one or both sides of the cutting edge, with a fine grinding stone with 1000 grit.
Disassemble garden shears before grinding and clean them thoroughly.
- First clean the scissor blades with moistened steel wool.
- For pre-sanding, use a metal file or a diamond file with 300 grit.
- The ideal grinding angle is 25 degrees.
- For fine sanding, use a 600 grit diamond file.
Alternatively, you can have high-quality garden tools resharpened at a specialist retailer.
The lawnmower deserves extra care
If you want to mow for the first time and notice that there are still clumps of grass hanging on the lawn mower, you should first remove them with a wooden spatula. Then carefully clean the mower with water and a brush.
So that you do not injure yourself during this work, make sure that the power plug is pulled out or the battery is removed. On the petrol mower you should remove the spark plug connector or unscrew the spark plug.
Tip
During the gardening season, you can sharpen secateurs by cutting through sandpaper a few times.
