Let's be honest: There is not always enough time in the work-intensive autumn to put the garden tools into hibernation after they have been cleaned, disinfected and checked for functionality. The grass from the last cut is sticking to the lawnmower, the spade has become blunt and the pruning shears are jammed. Not a good start to the new gardening year. That's why spring cleaning in the equipment cabinet is now the order of the day.

In the spring, blunt knives and scissors should be sharpened for use

Why do garden tools need to be cleaned and disinfected?

Rust and dirt form the ideal basis for germs. If you cut back plants with dirty scissors, they get into the plant through the open wound and can cause massive damage.

  • Thoroughly remove adhering dirt from the metal parts of the garden tools.
  • Stubborn residue can be removed with a wire brush.
  • Use steel wool to tackle light rust.
  • Then wash the devices with soapy water and disinfect them.
  • You can care for roughened wooden parts with a mixture of turpentine substitute and linseed oil.

Sharpen blunt knives and scissors

Blunt gardening tools cut through plant tissue poorly. 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 1000-grit whetstone.

Secateurs (€17.82) disassemble before sharpening and clean them thoroughly.

  • First clean the scissor blades with dampened steel wool.
  • Use a metal file or a diamond file with a 300 grit for the pre-grinding.
  • The ideal grinding angle is 25 degrees.
  • Use a 600 grit diamond file for fine sanding.

Alternatively, you can have high-quality garden tools sharpened in specialist shops.

The lawn mower deserves extra care

If you want to mow for the first time and find that clumps of grass are still stuck to the lawn mower, you should first remove them with a wooden spatula. Then clean the mower carefully with water and a brush.

To ensure that you do not injure yourself during this work, make sure that the mains plug is pulled out or the battery is removed. With petrol mowers, you should pull off the spark plug connector or unscrew the spark plug.

tips

During the gardening season, you can sharpen secateurs by cutting through sandpaper a few times.

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Care tips