Last autumn the shovel hit the soil & bounced, the pruners squished and the lawn mower mangled. You said at that time that you were sick of it. Next spring you were fixing them. Today is your day of wreckoning.
Here’s a few Spring tune-up ideas for some of the things you probably need to do but don't want to do - so require a bit of a two handed push to do. That's where I come in, not because I'm such a reliable tool cleaner but because I have man-hands.
They are big and meaty and pushy. Also, please don't whine because I DON'T WANT TO FIX MY GARDEN TOOLS EITHER. I want to use them until they are unusable, toss them into a gutter and buy a shiny new one which I will absolutely keep in mint condition always.
However. We cannot do any of this.
The handle broke off of my hand spade. I could have properly fixed it. Or bought a new one. Instead I use it without a handle. Which is as convenient as eating soup with a spoon that has no handle.
That was 4 years ago. I trust you can relate.
Each item needs a different treatment, but generally speaking,
| Sharpen | With |
|---|---|
| Shovels | Bastard File |
| Hoes | Bastard File |
| Pruners | Speedy Sharp or file |
| Push Mower Blades | Blade grit |
✋ Just get it over with ✋
Table of Contents
🔧 Sharpen Your Shovel & Hoe
✂️ Sharpen Your Pruners
First of all if you insist on leaving your shovel outside, leave it pushed into the soil. It will get less rusty that way.
Squashing a branch isn’t pruning. If they stick open or closed you need to clean them too.
Would you like to save this stuff?
We'll email you this post, so you can refer to it later.
🛠 Sharpen Your Push Mower Blade
🪓 Replace a Shovel Handle
A dull blade doesn’t mow grass—it mauls it.
Sharpening a push mower is fairly easy but you do need to learn how to do it first.
👉 How to Sharpen a Push Mower Blade
Handles aren't supposed to bend. Or snap. Or leave you holding half a shovel and a whole lot of bad words.
Here’s how to fix that.
👉 How to Replace a Shovel Handle
💅🏼 How to Mend a Broken Fingernail
You're maybe going to need this now.
- Get your Instant glue
- Get your teabag
- Then go read how to fix a broken fingernail
You mangled it. You're gonna fix it. You will get out there and start wrecking it all over again.
A.B.
Thank you for always sharing you amazing knowledge! You are the internet friend I turn to when I need garden advice and man oh do I need to sharpen my pruners. <3 Now instead of feeling overwhelmed, I have manageable steps! Thank you so very very much!
Karen
You're welcome A.B.! ~ karen!
LP
This post is SO timely, my partner and I have been wondering how we should sharpen our mush mower. More importantly, though, can I ask where those AWESOME yellow pants are from? Those are so gorgeous.
Karen
They're cords! Very old ones from Joe Fresh (Canadian brand). ~ karen!
Melanie
Hi Karen,
Just like you I’m imbued with superhuman strength when in the garden. Where do you get your shovel handles from?
Thanks, Melanie
Karen
Just from the local hardware store. For me that's Home Hardware. ~ karen!
Randy P
Coincidentally I just finished sharpening MY daily-use tools, namely all my kitchen knives. Not surprising that dull kitchen knives are about as useless as dull kitchen knives. Lots of ways to handle this chore, for I the past 5 years I've been very happy using the Work Sharp MK2 Professional Electric Knife and Tool Sharpener. Off Amazon as is most of my life.