A few good tools, looked after properly, will last a lifetime. Here's what you actually need and how to keep it in shape.
Created by jflgardens.co.uk
You don't need a shed full of gadgets to garden well — you need a handful of quality tools and the habit of looking after them. Good care means tools that cut and dig properly, last for decades and make every job easier.
A decent spade, fork, hand trowel, secateurs and bypass loppers will cover most jobs. Add a rake, a hoe for weeding and a pair of gloves and you're equipped for everything from planting to pruning — buy the best you can afford and they'll outlast you.
Clean mud off after every use and give blades a wipe with an oily cloth to stop rust. Sharpening secateurs and loppers with a fine file once or twice a season keeps cuts clean and plants healthy — a blunt tool crushes stems instead of slicing them.
Rub wooden handles with linseed oil once or twice a year to stop them drying and splitting, and keep metal clean and lightly oiled. Hang tools rather than leaving them on damp ground, and they'll stay true and rust-free.
At the end of the season, wash, dry and lightly oil all your tools before storing them somewhere dry and off the floor. Sharpen the edges, tighten any loose handles, and you'll start next spring with kit that's ready to go.
From about jfl gardens to a full maintenance-style overhaul, the JFL Gardens team works across Surrey and London.
