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If you want to keep your outdoor space well maintained, you need to invest in the right tools and equipment. When you buy good quality garden tools, they should last you a long time, as long as you care for them properly. Unfortunately, a lot of people end up replacing their garden equipment every few years because they don’t care for it. That’s not the end of the world if you have to buy a new spade every now and again, but big items like lawnmowers can be very expensive. If you want to stop wasting money in your garden, follow these simple tips to look after your garden equipment better. 

Store Them Properly

If you leave things out in the garden, they will soon rust and they will need to be replaced every couple of years. So, having somewhere to store everything makes a huge difference. If you have space in the garage, that’s perfect. Otherwise, you should consider an outhouse. This article will show you exactly how to build an outhouse shed, so you have a dry place to store all of your tools and equipment. As long as they are protected from the elements, they will last much longer. Before you store anything, you should always let them dry off, if possible. Hanging them up on the walls is better than leaving them to stand on the ground too. 

Clean Them After Use

When you use simple tools like shovels or forks, you should always clean them off after use. If you leave soil on them, they are soaked in moisture and this will start to degrade them and cause them to rust over time. So, give them a quick wipe over with a rag and let them dry before putting them away in the outhouse shed. 

Sharpen Them Periodically

A lot of people don’t realize that you should sharpen tools like shovels from time to time. When they have a sharper edge, it’s much easier for you to work with them and they’ll last longer too. You can do this quite easily with a file and some steel wool. Simply file the edges down to a sharp point and then use the steel wool to remove any loose jagged bits. It’s important to do this regularly, so make it a part of your normal annual gardening routine. When you are preparing the garden for summer, always take the time to sharpen your tools. 

Maintain Wooden Handles

If your tools have wooden handles, these are prone to rotting, especially when they get wet. So, you should treat them in the same way that you would your garden furniture or decking. Once a year or so, sand them down and stain the wood to add another layer of protection. This will stop water from soaking into the wood and causing lasting damage to the handles. 

Garden tools can be very expensive, especially if you are replacing them over and over again. But if you follow these simple care tips, you can make them last longer.