As February’s frost lingers, the garden remains in a state of quiet anticipation. While the ground may be too stubborn for planting, the garden shed offers a sanctuary for the most essential of winter rituals: cleaning and sharpening your garden shears. After a long season of hacking through woody stems and damp foliage, these workhorses often emerge battered, rusted, and dull. Taking the time now to restore them is not merely a chore; it is an investment in the health of your garden and the ease of your future labour.

The restoration process begins with a deep, restorative clean. Over time, shears accumulate a sticky layer of dried sap and grit that acts like sandpaper on the mechanism. Using a stiff brush or fine wire wool, scrub the blades to remove the remnants of last year’s growth. If rust has taken hold, a grillo pad can help remove the oxidation. Wiping the metal clean reveals the true state of the edge, allowing you to see exactly where the blade has become nicked or rounded.

Sharpening is where the true transformation happens. Using a file or a medium-grit whetstone, follow the original bevel—usually a 20° or 25° angle. Work in smooth, one-way strokes from the base to the tip, ensuring you don’t “round off” the point. When the blades are honed to a crisp edge, they slice through plant tissue with minimal resistance, producing clean wounds that the plant can seal quickly, effectively avoiding fungal infections.

Finally, a bit of WD40 on the central pivot nut ensures the action remains fluid. This February maintenance guarantees that when the spring growth arrives, you won’t be fighting your tools—you’ll be working in harmony with them.