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 ...

I use my pruning shears more than any other garden tool, and although it may seem strange to admit, I have a fondness for them. My pruning shears get used almost every time I step into my garden, 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 ...

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 ...

Avoid pruning when plants or soil are wet, especially if a freeze is coming soon. Late winter, just before new growth, is ...

Over the years I’ve worked as a professional gardener, I have clocked up hundreds of hours pruning. From rambling rose pergolas that stretch on and on, to fragrant wisteria vines clinging to the side ...

Seems every gardener, apprentice or accomplished, has in their inventory of tools at least one set of pruners and often several pruners that have become dulled with use. Collections of pruners grow ...

The winter months, when gardening chores are not as plentiful, is a great time to give your gardening tools a much-needed maintenance to keep them sharp and ready to use. All gardeners have favorite ...

No matter what type of pruning method you favor — vase, open air, summer, winter — the first step is to have the right tools. Contra Costa Master Gardener Keith Silva says using the correct tools ...