BEST OIL FOR GARDEN TOOLS

One of the simplest yet most effective steps you can take to extend the lifespan of your garden tools is to regularly oil them. By doing so, you can prevent rust from forming on the metal parts and protect any wooden components from drying out or cracking.

Although I wouldn’t call myself a stickler for tool maintenance, I’ve found that regularly oiling our tools compensates for any other occasional lapses in care. Of course, if I took the time to wash and dry my tools after each use, they’d be in even better shape, but after a long day in the garden, the last thing I feel like doing is cleaning my tools—I’d rather take a shower and relax. Sound familiar?

Rust forms when iron (or steel), water, and oxygen combine through a process known as oxidation. By applying oil to the steel, you effectively block the oxygen and water, which prevents rust from forming.

For many years, motor oil has been used as a rust preventative on garden tools, and this method is still common today. You might have heard or read advice suggesting that you submerge your tools in a bucket of sand mixed with motor oil. While this can prevent rust, it has its downsides—when you dig into the soil again, you’re transferring that oil into the ground, which isn’t ideal for your plants.

So, what’s a better option? Try boiled linseed oil. Extracted from the seeds of the flax plant, it’s an eco-friendly alternative to petroleum-based oils. Gardeners have been using linseed oil for generations to protect their tools from the elements. At Evigsdae, we apply linseed oil to every tool without a protective finish before shipping it out.

A word of caution: The boiled linseed oil you’ll find today contains a small amount of solvent to prevent it from hardening in the can. Once you apply it to your tools, allow them to dry for 24 hours to ensure that the solvent has evaporated completely before using them. Be sure to read and follow the instructions on the can. You can find linseed oil in the paint section of stores like Lowes, Home Depot, and likely your local hardware store as well.