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 ...

Sharpening tools is an important gardening task that can be completed indoors. If your tools are sharp, your plants will benefit, said Julie Janoski, Plant Clinic manager at The Morton Arboretum in ...

Don't miss the big stories. Like us on Facebook. 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 ...

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 ...

A roundup of local home and garden news and events, including a talk on a rhododendron collection, a class on sharpening pruning tools and Palo Alto encouraging residents to switch to heat pump water ...

It's February, and you may be itching to get out in the garden. But you know it's too soon to plant a lot of the things you're thinking of. What to do? Spend some time getting ready for spring by ...

Pruning shears are an incredibly handy tool to have around when trimming branches, cleaning up greenery, and creating floral arrangements. They're typically fairly small and pack more of a punch than ...

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 ...

I could not live without my hand pruners. My favorite brands are Fiskars and Felco, and I use only the bypass style, which cut clean and easy, like a pair of scissors. After each time I use my pruners ...

I have to confess: I’m not great at keeping up with tool maintenance. While I try to invest in the best-quality equipment I can afford, I don’t always care for it as well as I should. Luckily, ...