Maintain Pruning Tools Throughout the Season

Don’t wait until the end of the garden season to clean your pruning tools. Regular maintenance will extend their life and improve your efficiency. It can also help reduce the risk of spreading disease.

Saw and pruner blades often accumulate sap, become sticky, and fail to open and close fully and smoothly. Use a damp cloth to wash off any sap or soil, then dry. Remove any stubborn sap and rust with steel wool. Be mindful of the sharp blade so you don’t injure yourself in the process. Add a lubricant at the pivot points so they open and close with minimal resistance. Wipe the blades with rubbing alcohol or a spray disinfectant to kill pathogens and reduce the risk of spreading disease.

Store the maintenance materials with your tools to make regular cleanup convenient, so it is easy for you to do.

A bit more information: Don’t forget about your other tools. Wash excess soil off tools like shovels, hoes, and trowels with a strong blast of water from the garden hose. Use a wire-bristle brush to remove any remaining soil.  Then dry with a rag.

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