SOUTH SURREY GARDEN CLUB
  • HOME
  • JOIN US
    • Membership Form
  • MEMBER PORTAL
  • OF INTEREST
  • CONTACT US

SSGC BLOG

How to Sharpen Your Pruners

8/11/2020

 
In this video, South Surrey Garden Club member Roger Phillips demonstrates how to use the Lee Valley Diamond Sharpening Stick and provides suggestions on how to keep your pruners in good working condition.
UPDATE
Recently a question was posed to our discussion list regarding disinfecting pruners. Roger and Mary Dunn answered the question and both also suggested looking at Linda Chalker Scott's website.
Main Site: 
https://puyallup.wsu.edu/lcs/
Specific Pages: The Myth of Cloroxed Clippers and
Sterilized Pruning Tools: Nuisance or Necessity? 

Mary Dunn' s advice:
Probably the best disinfectant for pruners is a Lysol or Dettol solution, 1 part lysol to 9 parts water. A jar is useful so you can put the pruners right into it. 70% Isopropanol is also effective, and evaporates quickly. Bleach (1:9 with water ) is sometimes recommended, but is corrosive and causes damage to the blades (oil after using it, but Lysol is a better choice). Always clean off any dirt or sap before disinfecting. 

Here's Roger's advice:
Here in South Surrey, the plants that need the greatest care are roses (the dreaded black spot) and fruit trees (black knot on plums, canker on apples).
1)   Check the state of the pruners. They should be clean, sharp, and free of any pitted surfaces where bacteria can build up.
2)   Avoid cleaners like bleach or TSP--these are corrosives and will lead to pitting the surfaces of your pruner blades.
3)   Hand sanitizers that contain alcohol are good but expensive. Rubbing alcohol is cheaper.
4)   Household cleaners like Lysol, Listerine, Pine-Sol, are effective. Lysol comes in a spray can, very convenient to pack around the garden (but it's an aerosol, so not too environmentally friendly). Put enough fluid to cover the pruner blades in a canning jar with a tight lid.
5)   Wipe off any excess cleaner after disinfecting so that the next plant gets pruned with a dry blade.
6)   After finishing the pruning, wash the pruners in warm soapy water, scrub off any sticky deposits from plant sap, rinse, drain, and dry. *** (now is a good time to get the file or kitchen steel and sharpen the cutting edge of the pruners).
7)   To get those unreachable surfaces where the blades hinge, add a couple of drops of sewing machine or other light oil and open and close the pruners a few times to smear all metal surfaces.
Patti chabot
8/12/2020 09:18:01 am

Hi roger
I wanted to thank you for opening your spectacular garden the other day. I grew up around here and have memories of most local properties being full of interesting fruit and veggie plants so you took me right back to my childhood.

I just watched your video on sharpening pruners and wanted to know which side of the sharpener to use on what side of blade.
Regards patti

Linda
8/18/2020 10:16:37 am

Hi Patti- In the video, Roger shows us that it is the flat side of the diamond sharpener on what I would call the outside edge of the pruner. Watch the video again as he explains it.

Roger Phillips
8/18/2020 11:33:12 am

Hi Patti,
Thanks for your kind comments: yes, it's always nice to reconnect with old memories of the community.
re the sharpening stick - just use the flat side and gently do strokes along the blade making sure you get into the edge of the blade near the pivot point of the blades - that's where the twig usually fits when you go to cut it off.
R

Bobbi
8/12/2020 10:22:40 am

Thank you Mr. Phillips for sharing your expertise. Sharpening, for me, has always been an issue. Your video was clear and concise.

To SSGC great addition to club resources. Love when members are willing to share their knowledge and experience. Thank you.

Marie McConkey
8/13/2020 10:34:04 am

Dear Roger,

Thank you for your clear demonstration. I learned a lot.

It was delightful to go through your garden. What an amazing collection of apple trees you have.

Warmest regards,
Marie

And cudos to Lynda for getting this video organized.

Linda
8/18/2020 02:52:23 pm

Thanks Marie. I had a little help from my son Bryce who has continued his SSGC membership since he is back at home while UBC is online!

Margaret
8/21/2020 04:45:00 pm

This was an exceptionally great Video and very clear to
understand....after all these years of not knowing exactly how to
sharpen my tools. I even insisted my husband take a lesson from
you. Thank you.

Linda
8/21/2020 04:48:30 pm

We'll have to get Roger to teach some more!!

Henry Hanson link
4/6/2021 10:15:24 am

Loved reading this thaanks

Sweta Parikh link
8/8/2022 08:15:48 am


Thanks for sharing this helpful information! It's quite an interesting topic. Waiting for your next excellent update.


Comments are closed.

    Enjoy

    Some of our helpful videos and links!
    ​

    Archives

    February 2021
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    March 2020

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • HOME
  • JOIN US
    • Membership Form
  • MEMBER PORTAL
  • OF INTEREST
  • CONTACT US