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 ...

A few high-quality tools, well maintained, can last any gardener a lifetime. Here's what to know about caring for and ...

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 ...

When spring chores start competing for your gardening time, you won’t want to tackle them with a rusty, dull tool. Sharp tools will make most jobs easier, reducing blisters and backaches. Clean tools ...

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 ...

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 ...

We are well into spring now, and if you haven’t done it yet it’s time to make sure your garden tools are in peak condition. Good maintenance not only prolongs the life and usefulness of garden tools; ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

Of all the tools in my shed, my hand pruners work the hardest. After a long season of pruning, deadheading, and shaping, culminating in an epic fall cleanup operation, they are ready for some ...

Spring is just around the corner, and it’s time to make sure your garden tools are in peak condition. Good maintenance not only prolongs the life and usefulness of garden tools; it also improves their ...