Clean Pruning Shears and Trimming Equipment

Clean tools are a small detail that makes a big difference.

When pruning shears or hedge trimmers move from one plant to another, they can also move disease, bacteria, and fungal spores. That is especially important when trimming boxwoods and other ornamentals that may already be stressed or infected.

Why it matters

Dirty blades can spread:

• boxwood blight

• Volutella blight

• leaf spot diseases

• cankers and dieback issues

In other words, a dirty tool can turn one problem plant into several problem plants.

The simple rule

Clean first. Disinfect second.

If blades are covered in sap or debris, disinfectant will not work as well. Tools should be wiped clean before being sanitized.

What should be used

Common disinfecting options include:

• 70% alcohol

• 10% bleach solution

• other labeled disinfectants

When tools should be cleaned

Tool cleaning is especially important:

• between diseased plants

• after pruning suspicious dieback

• during boxwood trimming

• anytime disease spread is a concern

What this means for hedge trimmers

The same rule applies to powered hedge trimmers. If one boxwood in a hedge has disease, dirty blades can spread that issue down the entire row very quickly.