nurtomi

Clean tools between plants

Clean tools help avoid carrying problems to another plant.

Pruning shears; keep your own tools clean and sharp.
Pruning shears; keep your own tools clean and sharp. Photo: barockschloss from Zeilitzheim, Germany · CC BY 2.0 · Resized and converted for display.

What to look for

Plant sap, soil and debris can remain on blades after a cut. Cleaning is especially important after handling a plant that may have a disease.

What to do

Remove visible debris and wash the tool first. When disinfecting is needed, use an appropriate disinfectant according to its label, then dry the blades. Follow the manufacturer’s directions and never mix cleaning chemicals.

Sources