How to Care for Pruning Tools So They Stay Sharp and Last for Years

It is important to look after your pruning tools. Having clean, sharp pruning shears and other cutting tools ensures they last for many years and make clean cuts rather than damaging plants by tearing or crushing stems. Giving tools regular TLC keeps them in good, sharp, and rust-free condition.

Dirt, sap, and other debris need to be removed regularly to prevent tools from getting clogged. This, along with proper storage, prevents the metal and moving parts of tools from getting rusty. Also, lots of pruning causes the blades to become dull. A sharp blade makes pruning easier, and it needn’t take long to get them back to perfect working order.

Here we look at how to care for pruning tools so yours stay looking as good as new for longer. This includes how to clean, sharpen, maintain, and store pruning shears to ensure their longevity and protect your plants from damage.

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How to Clean Pruning Shears in 6 Steps
How to Sharpen Pruning Shears in 6 Steps
How to Prevent Pruning Tools From Rusting in 5 Steps

How to Clean Pruning Shears in 6 Steps

Over time, pruning tools can quickly get clogged with dirt, plant sap, and other gardening debris, preventing the blades from cutting cleanly and efficiently. This can leave plants with ragged cuts that can lead to infection. What's more, if soil and grime get into the moving parts of your shears, they will cause excessive wear and allow rust.

Although cleaning your pruning shears with a clean cloth and soapy water is a quick and easy way to remove dirt, there are times when it's better to spend a bit more time giving them a thorough clean.

Here are six quick and easy steps to give them a deep clean and get them performing at their best again.

1. Dismantle the pruning shears - Using the key provided, start by carefully dismantling the pruners, stripping them down to their component parts and laying them out in order on a clean, dry surface. If you don't have a key for doing this, you can also use a spanner or Allen key.
2. Clean the blades - Inspect and clean the various parts, paying particular attention to the blades, which are much easier to clean when removed from the handles. To remove any rust, you can use wire wool (available at Walmart) to get rid of it, then wipe the blades clean.
3. Use sandpaper if necessary - If you find traces of persistent grime along the blades that don't come away with the above steps, you can use a piece of sandpaper to help (get a mix of sandpaper sheets at Amazon). Simply place a piece of fine sandpaper on a flat surface and rub the blade gently over it to remove the dirt.
4. Clean the pivot area - Using a clean cloth, clean the pivot area where the top and bottom handles will be reconnected, removing any excess grease, dirt, and rust particles.
5. Reassemble the pruning shears - Start reassembling the pruners by fitting the blades back into the handles, then fix the handles together using the pivot bolt and locking nut. The locking nut should be tightened until the spring can just force the blades to open. At this point, the locking cog can be fixed into position, and the pruners are ready to use.
6. Dry and lubricate the components - Dry all components thoroughly with a clean cloth. Apply a light coat of lubricating oil or protective spray (such as WD-40 or Camellia oil) to the blades and pivot point to prevent rust and ensure smooth operation.

Your Essential Kit for Cleaning Pruning Shears

How to Sharpen Pruning Shears: 6 Steps

Pruning shears get a lot of use throughout the season. From pruning roses to deadheading flowers, the blades can dull over time. A sharp blade makes pruning easier and is kinder to plants, as it makes a cleaner cut. If you notice the blades not cutting as cleanly or crushing or tearing stems instead, they are due for sharpening.

How often you need to sharpen pruning shears depends on how much trimming you do. It can range from twice a season to once a month if you are using them frequently. Watch how your pruners cut to see the signs of dullness. Alternatively, you can test your pruning shears by cutting a piece of paper. If it makes a clean cut the length of the blade, they're ready to use on your plants.

'You can sharpen hand pruners using a whetstone, file set, or dedicated shear sharpener,' says Lindsey Chastain, growing expert and founder of The Waddle and Cluck.

1. Clean the blade before sharpening – Take the time to clean your pruners and remove any debris with a cloth before sharpening them. Make sure to also put on safety gloves to protect your hands.
2. Identify the cutting edge – Depending on the pruning shears you have, your method will differ. Bypass shears have one angled side on their sharp blade, while anvil shears are angled on both sides of their sharp blade. Bear in mind that you want to sharpen all angled sides, meaning anvil shears need sharpening on both sides. For bypass shears, only sharpen the outside of the blade bevel and never the inside or flat side to ensure they continue to cut cleanly without gaps.
3. Sharpen the angled side of the blade – You can start sharpening your tools by dragging the sharpening tool against the angled side of your shears. 'Sharpen the outside bevel, maintaining the correct blade angles as you work,' says Lindsey. Take care to only work away from you, rather than going back and forth, and to apply even pressure as you curve the tool along the blade angle.
4. Repeat until you see a shiny edge – As you repeat this action, the bevel will become shiny, which is an indication of successful sharpening. Repeat the strokes four or five times until the edge feels sharp and shines. It may take longer if the tool is very blunt.
5. Remove the burr – If you use a file, the sharpening action may cause a ‘burr’ along the flat edge of the cutting blade (this is where a thin sliver of metal folds over the cutting edge during sharpening). This can be easily removed by gently running the flat side of the file once along the edge.
6. Test the sharpness – Give your pruning shears another paper test to see if they cut through. If they make a clean cut, they're sharp enough to use. After sharpening, apply a light coat of oil to the blade to protect the newly exposed metal from rust and moisture.

Lindsey Chastain

Lindsey Chastain, a dedicated homesteader and skilled writer, is the driving force behind The Waddle and Cluck, a platform that celebrates sustainable living, gardening, and responsible farming. As half of the husband-wife team making The Waddle and Cluck thrive, Lindsey's expertise shines through in her engaging narratives about farm life and the beauty of rural living.

Your Essential Kit for Sharpening Pruning Shears

How to Prevent Pruning Tools From Rusting: 5 Steps

Rust and corrosion can all too easily strike pruning tools, reducing their lifespan and effectiveness. If you want to avoid replacing pruners regularly, knowing how to clean, oil, and store them properly after use will stop you from ending up with poor-performing, rusty tools. Do it properly, and your essential gardening tools can last for many years to come.

1. Clean and dry tools after every use – Leaving tools dirty is one of the main ways that pests and diseases spread around the garden. Remove soil, debris and plant residue after each use, and make sure they are dry before storing them away. Let them properly air-dry or wipe them down with a dry cloth.
2. Oil your tools – Once your tools are clean, sharp and properly dry, wipe over any metal and moving parts with a soft oiled cloth and squeeze a few drops of lubricant into the hinges of cutting tools such as shears, scissors and pruners. A thin coat of oil creates a moisture barrier, causing liquid to run off rather than pooling in one place and encouraging rust. You can get a multi-purpose lubricating oil at Lowe’s
3. Store your tools properly – Keep your pruning tools somewhere dry and sheltered, such as a labelled box, drawer, or hung up on hooks. A wall-mounted rack is an efficient storage idea for sheds, or compact tool organizers can be a must-have for a small garden shed. Just don’t leave them lying around damp on the ground; this is a tool storage mistake guaranteed to shorten their lifespan.
4. Buy quality tools - Cheap tools are a false economy, and it is always worth spending the most you can afford and buying the best possible tools as they will be better made, more robust and therefore more able to withstand rusting through the years. Stainless steel, hand-forged steel and carbon steel are the best materials for blades, such as these premium titanium pruning shears at Amazon. They are heavier than aluminum but are less likely to buckle and will last longer.
5. Perform winter maintenance – Before storing garden tools away for the winter, give them a thorough deep clean and apply a heavy coat of lubricating oil to all metal parts. This provides extra protection against rust during long months of inactivity.

Your Essential Kit for Maintaining and Storing Tools

FAQs

How Do I Protect Digging Tools From Rust?

Using sand and oil is a traditional way to clean larger tools that often end up covered in soil, such as spades, shovels, forks and hoes, as well as smaller hand forks and trowels.

Fill a bucket with sand and mix in some oil — motor oil or vegetable oil works well. Once you have brushed any soil and debris from your tools, plunge them into this mixture a couple of times to remove all dirt and coat them with a protective layer of oily sand that acts as a barrier against rust. Alternatively, you can apply a thin coat of lubricating oil after cleaning.

After this treatment, keep the tools hung up or stored in a dry place to protect them from the elements and prevent rusting.

If you like well-crafted tools that stand the test of time, then look no further than those made in Japan. Japanese gardening tools are very popular nowadays, primarily because they are reliably well-made, versatile, and easy to use.

The likes of hori-hori knives, Japanese pruning shears, Japanese weeding sickles, and hand hoes can become your go-to tools for many years to come. If you do invest in these premium tools, remember to clean, sharpen, and store them properly.

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