Clean and maintain garden tools

Garden tools work better and last longer if you clean and maintain them. Just take a few minutes after using them, Dan Cooper of online gardening company www.dancoopergarden.com advises.

Dan says that wet is the main problem, so always rinse soil and dirt off your tools after using them, then dry them with old rags or even old newspapers. Hang tools up to allow the air to circulate and help stop them rusting.

If you have let dirt dry on the tools, Dan suggests you brush it off with a bristle brush or a nylon kitchen scourer. Wire brushes will scratch metal.

However, if you have a patch of rust, scrub it off with wire wool or a wire brush. Wipe the tool down and spray with WD40 to stop the rust returning.

Dan also uses sandpaper on handles, and then oils them with camellia oil, but you could also use linseed oil.

Secateurs cut better if you keep them well maintained, and it’s less effort for your hands. Dan cleans them with either a Crean Mate sap eraser or uses household cleaning products. He likes Astonish The Good One, because he tries to minimise the use of chemicals in the home.

I’ve also cleaned a pair of very ancient secateurs with a standard kitchen abrasive cleaner. Rinse and dry with an old cloth.

Sharpen secateurs when you clean them, Dan advises. He sells a sharpening stone from Niwaki or recommends a Felco secateur sharpening tool.

Don’t try to sharpen secateurs with a standard knife sharpener. It won’t have the right angle and is too big.

When cleaning shears and secateurs, remember that plant diseases are passed on via sap. Use a few drops of bleach in water to disinfect them or spray with a household disinfectant.

Professional gardeners do this on a weekly basis, or every time they use their pruning tools in a different garden.

Companies like Felco and Niwaki offer specialist secateur repair and maintenance services.