"The best investment is self-made tools," said Benjamin Franklin.
I would go one step further and say that taking good care of your tools is insurance for your investment.
Everything needs a little TLC and garden tools are no exception. The equipment can be contaminated by plant debris, earth and rust when working in the garden. Also, tools such as shears used to prune diseased or dead branches should be sterilized between use on diseased plants and on healthy plants.
With frequent use, tools such as hand shears, shears and bypass tools will rust and once sharpened the blades will bend over time. It is very important to keep your garden equipment clean and in good condition. In an ideal world, we'd clean our garden tools after each use. However, time and energy do not always allow, so it is advisable to clean the equipment at least once a year.
Brushes, sponges, sandpaper, and lubes are best for hand pruning.
Winter is the ideal time for this task when the landscaping and garden are less demanding. You will need a few things to complete these tasks. It's best to use a liquid cleaner, something for soapy water like a bucket or bucket, and a soft brush, sponge, or dish towel to clean your equipment.
If you're cleaning equipment that needs to be disinfected, it's best to work with a 10% bleach solution. This can be combined with soapy water. To make 10% bleach, use 1 cup of bleach in 9 cups of water. Wash first with soapy water and then disinfect.
Start by cleaning the tools by cleaning any debris or dirt from the blades. Then clean the equipment by soaking it in warm soapy water. Use a soft brush, dish towel, sponge, or dishwashing sponge to thoroughly clean the sheets. After cleaning, rinse and soak the unit in a 10% bleach solution to disinfect the unit. Then dry the device completely with an old towel or paper towel. It is necessary to dry the unit completely or there is a risk of rust forming on the unit. Use sandpaper or a sandblaster to remove any rust residue or stains.
Then you will sharpen the blade. It is important to keep a sharp blade to keep plants healthy. A sharp pair of splitters creates a cleaner cut that will ensure the healthy recovery of your plant, prevent susceptibility to insects and disease, and help increase plant strength and vigor.
I recommend using a diamond file to sharpen blunt shears (cutting blades). There are several types, including coarse, fine, and ultrafine. Start with a coarse file, then work your way up to finer files. To start with, hold the file at the same angle as the cutting edge, about 10 to 20 degrees. Starting from the inside of the blade, applying firm pressure, pull the file up towards the tip in a curving motion, following the shape of the blade.
Work on the blunt edge, filing the surface of the blade about 10-20 times, depending on the shape of your shears. More advanced devices require up to 30 steps. Then switch to a finer one and do as many passes with the coarse file. Finally, remove the metal scratches with a cloth or brush. Work both sides of the blade to sharpen it.
Finally, we recommend using a lubricant to prevent rust. Apply lubricating oil to the blade and springs and dry the unit with a cloth or paper towel. When you're done, you'll have a nice, clean, sharp blade with a slight oily sheen. Test your blade sharpening progress with a few branches and sharpen more if necessary.
Now you can start pruning in early spring, for example by pruning roses. As Winston Churchill said, "Give us the tools and we'll do the job."
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