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| Sharpening a lopper is important so that the plant is not torn when cut. |
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| Would you let your doctor use a needle or scalpel that was just used on someone else? It is important to clean and sanitize ALL pruning tools. I like isopropyl alcohol. Here are alcohol wipes. Use a spray bottle of alchol if you want. |
The Best Time to Prune
I had a
college professor who taught the best time to prune was when the pruning tools were
sharp. It was a little bit of a joke because most people believe the only time
to prune plants is during the winter. That’s true if you’re using a chainsaw,
reciprocating saw, hand saw or loppers but if you’re using a hand shears my old
college professor’s advice was on the mark. If you’re using a hand shears to
remove some offensive plant growth you can do it any time. Just make sure its
sharp.
college professor who taught the best time to prune was when the pruning tools were
sharp. It was a little bit of a joke because most people believe the only time
to prune plants is during the winter. That’s true if you’re using a chainsaw,
reciprocating saw, hand saw or loppers but if you’re using a hand shears my old
college professor’s advice was on the mark. If you’re using a hand shears to
remove some offensive plant growth you can do it any time. Just make sure its
sharp.
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| My pruning classes always begin by adjusting, sharpening and sanitizsing ALL pruning equipment! |
Sharpen, Adjust and Sanitize
If
you’ve ever taken my classes on pruning
you know that I’m a stickler for three things when preparing to prune;
adjusting a loppers or hand shears so it doesn’t rip plants instead of cutting them,
making sure the blade is sharp for the same reason and sanitizing these blades.
You wouldn’t go into a doctor’s office and let him or her use a dirty needle or
scalpel. The same holds true for plants.
you’ve ever taken my classes on pruning
you know that I’m a stickler for three things when preparing to prune;
adjusting a loppers or hand shears so it doesn’t rip plants instead of cutting them,
making sure the blade is sharp for the same reason and sanitizing these blades.
You wouldn’t go into a doctor’s office and let him or her use a dirty needle or
scalpel. The same holds true for plants.
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| Advanced stage of fire blight dieasese, one of many plant diseases passed along from plant to plant by dirty pruning equipment. |
Chances
are when using dirty tools five times out of a thousand nothing will happen. We
use the same logic for protecting ourselves with insurance; it won’t happen to
me! In 50 years of pruning plants I have seen an actual problem develop from
dirty tools perhaps five times. But I have seen unexplained problem diseases
develop later to pruned trees and shrubs many other times. The usual fault is
claimed to be from “borers”. Was it?
are when using dirty tools five times out of a thousand nothing will happen. We
use the same logic for protecting ourselves with insurance; it won’t happen to
me! In 50 years of pruning plants I have seen an actual problem develop from
dirty tools perhaps five times. But I have seen unexplained problem diseases
develop later to pruned trees and shrubs many other times. The usual fault is
claimed to be from “borers”. Was it?
Sanitize Your Pruning Tools!
There
are at least eight plant diseases I know of that can be transferred to plants
through pruning cuts using dirty tools. There are probably more than this. Once
a saw, loppers or hand shears is sanitized it is always placed back in a
scabbard, draped around a neck or hung on a neighboring tree but never laid
back on the ground. Six of those eight diseases can come from laying sanitized
tools on the ground after they’ve been sanitized.
are at least eight plant diseases I know of that can be transferred to plants
through pruning cuts using dirty tools. There are probably more than this. Once
a saw, loppers or hand shears is sanitized it is always placed back in a
scabbard, draped around a neck or hung on a neighboring tree but never laid
back on the ground. Six of those eight diseases can come from laying sanitized
tools on the ground after they’ve been sanitized.
What to
use for sanitizing equipment? I prefer spraying the blade with straight
isopropyl alcohol, bought just about anywhere, after the blades have been
washed with soap and water. Some people prefer bleach but if you use bleach
then oil all the metal parts, so they don’t rust. In a pinch, I will wash the
equipment and use a butane lighter to heat the blades. That works as well.
use for sanitizing equipment? I prefer spraying the blade with straight
isopropyl alcohol, bought just about anywhere, after the blades have been
washed with soap and water. Some people prefer bleach but if you use bleach
then oil all the metal parts, so they don’t rust. In a pinch, I will wash the
equipment and use a butane lighter to heat the blades. That works as well.
Do you
ever wonder where lawn diseases come from? Later in the season we will talk
about sanitizing lawnmower blades. Lawnmower blades are terribly dirty and can spread
lawn diseases from yard to yard as well.
ever wonder where lawn diseases come from? Later in the season we will talk
about sanitizing lawnmower blades. Lawnmower blades are terribly dirty and can spread
lawn diseases from yard to yard as well.