Keeping your garden tools clean and sharp protects them and helps them last much longer. Sharp tools work better and are better for your plants. A dull tool can cause damage to plants as you work; but when kept sharp, it will perform clean cuts with little damage to the plants. And in addition to all these benefits, sharpening garden tools is thankfully a very easy process given the correct items are used.

Garden hoes and other cultivator items are very easy to sharpen. A ten inch mill bastard file works the best. On a sturdy work surface, clamp the hoe or have someone help you hold it while you sharpen the tools. Hold the file at about a 20 degree angle from the edge of the item and use long single strokes away from the tool to expose new metal. Work evenly across the surface of the tool to put a nice sharp edge on it.

Garden shears take a lot of abuse as they are used close to the ground. Rocks and dirt will dull the shears quickly. A scissors sharpener works the best for these tools. You can also sharpen them with a file. Clamp the tool in a vise to keep it steady and pull the file along the edge of the tool. Keep both hands on the file to maintain a smooth sharpening action.

Pruning shears are probably the most difficult tool to sharpen. Their rounded edge takes a lot of control to put a sharp edge back on them. Use a sharpening stone to work evenly and slowly across the edge of the shears. Sliding the shears with a long, straight motion across the stone works the best.

Very dull or damaged tools can be fixed with a power bench grinder. Grinders spin at several hundred RPM and will remove large amounts of metal very quickly. Hand sharpening is preferred over power grinders as a grinder can heat the tool during the sharpening process, causing it to warp or lose its temper. To prevent this from happening, periodically dip the tool into water to cool it down.

Once your tools are properly sharpened, use a rag to wipe them down with a light coat of oil. This will protect them from rusting. They should also be cleaned and oiled after every gardening session. Cleaning and sharpening garden tools will not only help keep their edge longer, but also help them last through many years of garden use.