It’s worth investing a little time in a good pruning tool or scissors to keep your productivity up. Cleaning and maintaining your trimmer will not only increase the life of the tool but also improve its usability. If you are dealing with plants or trees at risk of infection, it is also important to disinfect your trimmer.
It is also important to sharpen your knife regularly, as blunt blades tend to tear away plant tissue, causing jagged wounds. It’s winter and not much gardening to do.So it’s a great time to clean and sharpen your pruning tools now!
Clean and disinfect pruning shears
Pruning shears should be cleaned before disinfecting because dirt and residue on the blades can interfere with any disinfectant you use. It’s usually enough to wipe the blade with a damp cloth, and even better to add a small amount of detergent to the water. Should be cleaned regularly to prevent the pruning machine stuck. If it has not been cleaned for a long time, it is recommended to take the tool apart and wipe it thoroughly.
Disinfection
Medical Alcohol, the kind you can buy at the drugstore, is ideal for sanitizing and pruning. Alcohol disinfection does not require soaking and a simple wipe can do the trick
Oil
After cleaning, oil the tool to keep it moving freely and prevent corrosion. Common mineral oils can be used. A thin vegetable oil should do the job well. Spread some oil between the blades and on the spring. When not in use, apply a little oil to the latch that locks the saw. Then move the parts so that the oil reaches all the sliding surfaces, erasing any excess oil.
Sharpen trimming tool
It is important to keep the trimming tool sharp. First, the sharp blade makes cutting easier, and the gardener’s work doesn’t tire easily. Second, a clean incision will heal better and faster, making it less likely that the plant will get infected through the wound. Therefore, if deeper scratches or nicks occur, the sharp blade should be replaced regularly. Most hedge trimmers and pruning shears on the market are sold as replacement parts. There is no need to take the whole tool down. It is beneficial to keep the pruning tools in good condition after use. It’s not as easy as you might think, but it’s a fairly simple task. If you do this often, the life of your pruning tools can be greatly extended, and you can save money on new equipment. And they always give you clean, quick cuts! It is important to remember that common trimming tools, such as hedge shears and hand trimmers, can only sharpen on their single bevel. That is, not the“Back”, the back needs to be flat. On the other hand, cutting board pruning shears usually have two bevels, so both sides should be sharpened.
