How to Preserve Blades

A gardener's arsenal is full of tools. Hand shovels, trowels, weeders and bulb diggers are all essential for creating a breathtaking garden. Pruning shears and hand shears are equally important tools in the gardener's arsenal for training roses to grow in the proper direction, encouraging new flower growth or winterizing shrubs for maximum show in the spring. The blades in shears require extra care to ensure sharpness, prevent rust, and maintain flexibility.

• 1

  Fill the bucket with water. Hold your open shears over the bucket. Dip your brush into the water and scrub all metal areas of the shears. Apply extra pressure, if needed, to areas that have caked-on mud or clay, or are covered in rust. Rinse the brush once the blades on both sides are clean. Dry the shears.

• 2

  Place the cutting board on a table in front of you. Open the shears and hold them away from you. Sharpen each blade by sliding the sharpening tool away from you, against the beveled edge of the blade. Slide the file away from you several times. Use your finger to very gently check the blade for sharpness. Once you are satisfied with the sharpness of both blades, carefully take the old towel and wipe away the shavings.

• 3

  Sterilize your shears by pouring alcohol into the medium-sized bowl for smaller shears, or the flat pan for larger ones. Soak the blades in the alcohol for one to two minutes. Rinse them with water and dry them with the towel. Sterilizing your shears keeps newly cut branches or stems healthy and prevents disease from eating away at the branch's "wound."

• 4

  Apply a generous coat of spray lubricant to the cleaned and sterilized blades. Spray the lubricant carefully onto the blades, then work it into the blades, using the old towel. Wipe off the excess oil, but leave a sheen. Spray lubricant helps prevent rust and allows the shears to easily open and close, making it easier for you to work in your garden.