Frequent, minimal sharpening keeps tools working their best. • Hoes, shovels: Use a 12-inch mill bastard file, preferably with a handle on it, and make a smooth, sharp edge by filing in forward ...

Fall is a good time to prune deciduous trees and shrubs. Once the leaves have dropped you can see the form – and the clutter – and decide what to take out. But before you begin, think about sharpening ...

Over the years I’ve worked as a professional gardener, I have clocked up hundreds of hours pruning. From rambling rose pergolas that stretch on and on, to fragrant wisteria vines clinging to the side ...

Dull pruning tools are like dull kitchen knives: they'll do the job, but not very well. For years I've wanted to learn how to sharpen my shears, clippers, scissors and pruners, but it's largely a lost ...

As you put away the garden tools for the season, it pays to clean and sharpen them. That way, they’ll be ready to go for midwinter dormant pruning or on that first warm gardening day in spring. “Sharp ...

Unlike garden shears, which are similar to scissors in design, loppers are designed for use with both hands, which allows the user to exert greater force for cutting large branches. “Loppers are ...

Q: Can I sharpen my hand tools without a grinder? I want to work smarter, not harder this year in the garden. Answer: Yes, you can sharpen your tools using a file or an oil stone. Congratulations! You ...

Fall is a good time to prune deciduous trees and shrubs. Once the leaves have dropped you can see the form — and the clutter — and decide what to take out. But before you begin, think about sharpening ...

You'd like to buy a new set of hand pruners, but when you start shopping, you find that you can pay $10, you can pay $15, you can pay $20, you can pay $50. Should you go cheap or should you buy the ...