Why it's important to keep your garden tools clean and how ...

When you're pruning away in your garden, do you put your secateurs away once you're done with them or do you take the time to clean them thoroughly?

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After a day in the garden, the last thing many of us think to do is tool maintenance.

Gardening educator Claire Bickle says the importance of keeping our tools in check is often overlooked.

"Caring for your tools will give them longevity &#; they will last longer, and you'll stop moving diseases around your garden," she says.

Keeping your tools organised also helps prevent disease spread in the garden.

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ABC Rural: Charlie McKillop

"Especially with secateurs, as you're cutting through branches and getting sap and other things on them, so wiping them off with water straight way is good."

If you forget, don't despair. Claire recommends a little dishwashing detergent or soap will remove the sticky sap that might have hardened.

"A little sandpaper can help too if sap is hard, but make sure you don't do it to the edge of the blade."

Stopping the spread of disease

When it comes to cutting and pruning in the garden, Claire says it's always a good idea to clean the tools between each cut if you believe the bush or tree has a disease.

"Between rose bushes, it's important to clean the tools as it stops the spread of diseases," she says.

Cleaning your tools after pruning each rose bush can stop fungal diseases.

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ABC Rural: Sarina Locke

"If you have dieback on one rose bush and then cut another bush without cleaning, then you've transferred a fungal disease on one to another one that mightn't have had it.

"Dipping the tool in methylated spirits between each cut can really help."

If you're looking for other ways to sanitise your tools to help fight diseases Gardening Australia recommends:

• Dipping tools in 1 part household bleach, to 99 parts water;

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  Or wipe tools with a few drops of tea tree oil on a cloth to sterilise, before and after pruning.

"The best practice really is to give tools a jolly good clean after a day of pruning and if you're feeling up to it pull the secateurs apart and clean them thoroughly," Claire says.

Sharpening for the better

Another chore many gardeners forget to do is sharpen their tools after use.

"If you can clean them that's great, but if you sharpen them too, you're winning," says Claire.

"Invest in a sharpening stone, as they're not that expensive and that's another way to keep the blade sharp and the stone can also help clean the sticky sap off as well as rust."

Axe-sharpening stones can help keep the blades of spades sharp and pruning saws can be kept clean with a simple nailbrush.

Fellow gardeners shared their cleaning and sharpening tips with ABC Radio Brisbane:

"I always remember to add a little oil to the blades, so they don't cease up after I wash them in water." &#;  Beverley from Clayfield.

"I use a scourer to clean my secateurs as it only takes a few wipes and they're clean." &#; Grant from Morayfield.

"The muck can get caught up in the middle of my tools, so I always try and take mine to pieces and wash all the pieces in soapy water." &#; Jenny from Mapleton.

Making a handy sand plunge bucket

Gardening Australia encourages gardeners to clean off their spades and shovels by creating a sand plunge bucket.

A sand plunge bucket can keep your tools looking good for longer.

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ABC Gardening Australia

The simple cleaning method sees tools placed in a bucket of sand with either vegetable oil or grape seed oil through it.

Sliding the spades or shovels in and out of the mixture wipes any of the muck away as well as prevents rust with the sand acting as an abrasive.

"By running the tools through the sand and oil, it helps maintain the tools and you can even leave your hand tools in there for next time," Claire says.

Storage is king

Finally, storing your tools correctly can really keep them in working order and ready for your next gardening session.

"Don't leave your tools out around the garden, put them away when you're done with them," says Claire.

"You need to hang them up and store them out of the weather, out of the sun and the rain as that affects the wood of the handles.

"Having them clean and free of soil makes it easy for when you need them."

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