Pruning tools in December: maintenance and care after the season

TL;DR

December, after the season, is the ideal time to clean and maintain your pruning tools. Rusty or dirty secateurs work poorly and spread fungus. Wash your secateurs, pruning saw, and hedge shears with warm soapy water, dry immediately, and coat with light oil against rust. Sharpen dull blades now the season is over. Check handles and pivot points for play. Well-maintained tools last years and cut better.

Why December maintenance?

December is quiet in the garden - you have not cut much and tools rest on the shelf. This is the ideal time for thorough cleaning without rush. Moreover: tools that go into storage now clean and oiled do not rust away and look good next spring.

Many gardeners skip this and their secateurs rust, pivot points become loose, and cutting surfaces remain dirty. That means poor cutting next season, more effort needed, and tools break sooner.

Basic cleaning: every tool type

Secateurs (hand pruners)

Warm water, mild soap, and soft brush. Clean the blades of stubborn sap and leaf debris. Dry with a cloth. Check that the pivot point still moves smoothly. If it becomes stiff, a drop of oil in the pivot pin.

Look at the pivot point: is there much play (you can wiggle the pivot pin)? Then it is time to tighten the bolt. Find a small bolt on the shear at the pivot. With a fitting screwdriver (usually large or medium) turn it clockwise until it moves smoothly without play.

Hedge shears

Longer than secateurs, two long blades. Dirt sits underneath. Warm water, soap, and an old toothbrush work well. Pay special attention to the cutting edges - stubborn sap collects there.

Hedge shears sometimes have two pivot points (one in the centre, one at the top). Check both for play. Also: tighten small bolts.

Pruning saw (folding saw)

Saw blade is finer and feels grittier when dirty. Wash the saw blade with water, soap, and a soft brush along the whole length. Be careful not to cut your fingers. Dry well. If the blade is dull, sharpen later.

Check the handle for cracks in wood. Sand small splinters away with sandpaper.

Sharpening: blades that have become dull

After a full season of pruning, blades become dull. They no longer cut cleanly, you must press hard, and it breaks branches instead of cutting cleanly.

When to sharpen?

December, January - not now while you are still using them. It is pointless to sharpen mid-season. Sharpen only when you are done.

Easy home sharpening: stone or whetstone

For small secateurs you can use a rectangular whetstone (cheap, 5-10 euros). Wet the stone briefly with water. Lay your secateur on the workbench with the cutting blade toward you. Draw the stone along the blade in a smooth motion from handle to point, at roughly 20 degrees. Do this 5-10 times per side. The stone turns grey (that is metal), and your blade feels sharper.

Note: some blades are ground on one side, others on both. Look at your tool - if the blade is ground on one side, sharpen there. Two sides: both sides.

Professional sharpening: the garden workshop

For saws, large secateurs, or pruning knives, professional sharpening pays. A good sharpening shop does this for 5-15 euros per tool. They use electric machines and get it truly sharp. This is especially worthwhile for expensive secateurs and saws.

Search locally for garden workshops or horticultural businesses that offer this. Many places offer December sharpening service.

Oiling and preservation

After cleaning and sharpening comes oil against rust.

Light oil

Use light machine oil (such as 3-in-1 oil, or sewing machine oil). This is not tung oil or linseed oil - those become sticky.

Dab a small amount of oil onto a soft cloth (not a glob) and wipe along all metal surfaces of your secateurs, saw, and pruning knives. Extra attention to pivot points, holes, and hard-to-reach corners.

Do not overdo it - you want oiled, not dripping tools. Wipe excess oil with a clean cloth.

Storage after oiling

Dry place (garage, shed, not in damp cellar). Tools may be gritty, not wet. An old box with sandpaper works too: put your secateurs in, and they do not touch each other.

Handles and grips

Splinters in wooden handles

Wooden handles can splinter. Feel along the grip, and sand splinters away with coarse sandpaper (40 grit).

Loose wooden handles

If the handle wobbles (hole has enlarged), usually not much can be done. This is a sign of wear. Repair is expensive. Some people glue with epoxy, but this does not last long.

Cork handles (on expensive secateurs)

Cork wears away. This is normal. For slow wear slowing: sand cork with waterproof sandpaper, then treat with cork sealer (available at garden centres).

Checklist December pruning tool maintenance

For every secateur:

• Warm water + soap, soft brush
• Dry well
• Tighten pivot if there is play
• Oil with light machine oil
• Store in dry place

For saws:

• Saw blade carefully cleaned
• Handle check for cracks
• Oil
• Store

For large electric pruners:

• Start and stop according to manual
• Clean cooling vents
• Store battery(ies) in low-protection setting for winter

For complete maintenance:

• Secateurs clean
• Saw clean
• Knife clean
• Everything oiled
• Stored safely

Frequently asked questions

My secateurs keep rusting, what do I do?

Probably not a maintenance issue, but the tool itself. Cheap secateurs of thin metal rust quickly. If you cut a lot and value your tools, pay for stainless steel. This costs more (20-50 euros vs 5-15) but never rusts.

Can you put secateurs in the dishwasher?

No! Dishwasher promotes rust and hot water damages the pivot. Always wash by hand.

How often should I sharpen?

Every 50-100 hours of pruning roughly. So about once per season. If you cut a lot (professional), maybe every 4-6 weeks. For home garden: once per season in December.

Where do I buy replacement blades?

Many manufacturers (Felco, Bahco, ARS) sell replacement blades. This is cheaper than a whole new secateur. You need the model number.

My secateurs are old and no longer move smoothly

Pivots can be replaced. Felco and other brands sell pivot replacement kits (10-20 euros). This takes some work (you must take the old secateur apart) but is doable.

Step-by-step December pruning tool plan

Step 1: Gather all your tools

All secateurs, saws, knives. Put them on a workbench.

Step 2: Cleaning

Warm water, soap, soft brush. Dry everything.

Step 3: Inspection and adjustment

Check pivot points for play. Tighten bolts. Check wooden handles for splinters.

Step 4: Sharpening

Now, or in January. Use a stone for home sharpening, or take to a professional.

Step 5: Oiling

Light oil, small amount, everything coated. Excess oil wiped away.

Step 6: Storage

Dry place, separated so they do not bang against each other.

Discover your own garden plan

At [gardenworld.app](https://gardenworld.app) you can upload your garden and see which tools you need for your planting plan. With good maintenance you enjoy your secateurs for years.