Garden-cutting tasks are much less tedious if you have a sharp-bladed garden tool to work with. A blunt tool will slow you down and can cause unnecessary damage to plants as unsharp blades are likely to crush, rather than cleanly cut, growth. For these reasons, it's important to keep your garden tools razor-sharp with the best sharpener for your tools for optimum performance levels.
All types of metal tool blades, regardless of the material, will dull over time, although higher quality blades, such as carbide-tipped options, will take longer to do so. It goes without saying the more often you use a tool, the more likely it is to get blunt. Handheld secateurs and garden shears are definite candidates for regular sharpening. We're not suggesting you sharpen your tools after every use but doing so several times a year will save you time and effort in the long run.
The best sharpeners for garden tools at a glance:
There are many different ways to sharpen tool blades. If you're an experienced tool owner, you can use a simple file to get that desirable sharp edge. Less confident gardeners may want to opt for a 'pull-through' sharpener that takes the guesswork out of the correct angle to employ. For larger blades, a sharpening stone, or whetstone, is an effective way of grinding the edges of the blade to make it more sharp. We've got a salient selection of various kinds of tool sharpeners below, so read on to find the best option to suit you.
Best sharpeners for your garden tools
Best overall tool sharpener
Sharpal We've awarded this Sharpal option the title of best overall tool sharpener, as it's an incredibly versatile tool that can sharpen anything from kitchen knives to axes. The main sharpening element is constructed of five sharpening parts, including three different slots of preset optimal sharpening angles, one specially designed tungsten carbide bar, and one ceramic bar. On the top of the sharpener is a notch for sharpening smaller blades.
This has a user-friendly design with an oversized handle that allows for use with gloves. There is a large hand guard to protect your hands from blades, while the rubberised, over-moulded handle and base provide a secure and comfortable grip.
Pros
- Oversized handle so you can use this wearing gloves
- A versatile tool that can sharpen any straight blade
Cons
- A vice is necessary for larger tool blades
Best oiled tool sharpener
AmtechUsing oil, such as a specialist honing oil, will help lubricate and cool the blade during the sharpening process. This handy little Amtech sharpener is a multi-functional tool, as it keeps a small amount of oil on board the tool at the end of the handle that you can apply to the blade before sharpening.
This tool can be used to sharpen all straight-edged blades. It has an ergonomic design for your comfort and a hole in the handle to attach a strap for storage and portability. This boasts a tungsten carbide blade that takes care of the sharpening action.
Pros
- A multi-functional tool with a small oil tank
- Pocket-friendly dimensions for convenient portability
Cons
- Larger blades will take a while to sharpen
Best tool sharpener power tool attachment
Multi-Sharp If you want to save some elbow grease, you can buy power tool attachments that offer blade-sharpening capabilities. This Multi-Sharp option is just that - it boasts a universal fit to be used with any power tool and re-edges and re-sharpens garden tool blades.
This is an especially popular choice to sharpen rotary mower blades, which can be worked on in situ rather than needing to be removed. The reversible corundum grinding wheel sharpens to a 25-degree angle, ideal for shears, hoes, axes, and even garden spades if you prefer a sharp edge for effective digging.
Pros
- Universal fit for use with any brand of power drill
- Grinding wheel is made from corundum
Cons
- Requires a power drill to use the tool
Best pull-through tool sharpener
Spear & JacksonWe like this Spear & Jackson sharpener for various reasons: it's from a very well-respected garden tool brand, it has portable dimensions, and it boasts a pocket-friendly price. This works on a simple 'pull-through' basis where you pull the sharpener along the length of the blade, sharpening it as you do so.
Its ergonomically shaped design provides a non-slip, comfortable hold, while the handguard safeguards your fingers during use. Hidden in the handle is a removable sponge gizmo that you can soak in honing oil to use as and when required.
Pros
- Removable sponge to soak in honing oil
- Ergonomically-shaped design for a good grip
Cons
- Reviewers warn using without gloves can cause blisters
Best tool sharpener stone
DDF A sharpening stone, or whetstone, offers a traditional way to bring blades back to life. Using a circular motion, you hold these stones in the palm of your hand and gently rub them across the edge of the blade. This DDF option is made of corundum, a hard crystalline mineral that can be formed into different textures to offer sharpening properties. This can be used on lawnmower blades, chisels, hatchets, tomahawks, shovels, spades, and various other cutting and chopping tools.
This stone has two sides; a 180 grit side that can be used to sharpen dull edges quickly, and a 320 grit side that is used to restore slightly dull edges and enhance the finishing. Reviewers state that this stone fits well into the palm of your hand, making it comfortable and easy to use. You don't need to use oil with a whetstone, but you do need to soak it in water before use.
Pros
- Comes complete with a smart storage case
- Double-sided design to suit different jobs
Cons
- Need to soak in water before use for best results
Best pocket tool sharpener
SharpalAnother Sharpal option, this is designed for pocket-friendly portability so is ideal for use away from home. It can be used on the go to restore and hone all sorts of blades, including all straight-bladed garden tools, knives, and scissors. Adding to that portability is a cover to protect the sharpening area, a built-in lanyard hole, and a pen clip so you can pop this in your top pocket.
It has a soft-grip handle for a comfortable hold. The sharpener boasts whole-body carbide construction, compared to inferior products that only offer a carbide edge. There are two sides to this tool: a side for quick edge setting and a side for fine honing. Reviewers say that if you get the angle correct - Sharpal recommends a 20-degree angle - this will sharpen the average blade in as little as three swipes.
Pros
- Compact design that makes this great for use on the go
- Very durable full-body carbide construction
Cons
- Some reviewers say the safety cap can be a bit tricky
Best diamond file tool sharpener
Felco A file is another type of sharpener that is effective on all kinds of tool blades. Unlike steels, that have handles, these kind of files keep things simple with a minimalist design that will take up hardly any space in your toolbox. This small-scale Felco option is a 10cm long hardened steel plaque coated with tiny diamond particles that sharpen the blade when rubbed across it.
Felco states that this is specifically designed to reach all areas of the blade for secateurs and pruning shear sharpening. Reviewers who were disappointed with the results of buying this and just experimenting strongly advise watching Felco's official instruction video, available on YouTube, to get the best results.
Pros
- Simple design that takes up very little room
- Diamond-covered, hardened steel construction
Cons
- Felco holster case sold separately
How we chose the best sharpeners for garden tools
All of these garden tool sharpeners have been hand-selected by our team of Modern Gardens shopping experts. We carefully considered the design, ease of use, and suitability for different types of blades in our selection of the best. Our team has spent hours investigating and researching all types of sharpeners to make it easier for you to find the very best, and we'd never recommend a product we don't believe in.
Where possible, we also test and share the latest and best products you should know about. And with help from Modern Gardens Magazine, Garden News and Garden Answers, we share expert gardening knowledge to help you get the most from your product.
What kind of tools can you sharpen?
You can sharpen anything with single and double-bevelled straight blades. This ranges from small blades on garden scissors and snips, up to blades of large lawn mowers. You can also sharpen edged tools, such as garden spades, edging irons, and hoes.
These sharpeners cannot be used on serrated blades such as saws and pole saws which require special triangular file-type tools. Chainsaw blades also require a specialist sharpening solution.
How do you use a sharpener?
This very much depends on the style of the sharpener you have. Arguably, the easiest to use are pull-through sharpeners, which you simply pull along the length of the blade, letting the internal sharpening gubbins do their thing. Others require you to manually swipe against the edge of the blade, ensuring you get the correct angle - around 20 per cent is ideal for most kinds of blades.
Hopefully your sharpener will come complete with specific instructions from the manufactuer, and there's always YouTube to turn to for those ever helpful instruction videos.
Do you need to oil a blade when you sharpen it?
You don't need to, but it's recommended to lubricate the blade during the sharpening process, and help cool it down from the friction you will generate. A simple wipe with a good quality honing oil before you start is ideal.
You don't need to use oil with sharpening stones, or whetstones. Water is a sufficient lubricant for this method, with some stones requiring to be soaked before use.
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Amy-Mae Turner is a Commerce Content Writer for Modern Gardens, Yours, Take A Break Pets, and A Modern Kitchen. When she's not pottering in the garden or mucking around in the kitchen, she can be found having doggy cuddles with her two beloved cockapoochis.