November 11th, 2011 The Tools for Pruning Roses
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Roses should be pruned using the correct pruning tools to ensure the canes are cut cleanly. Hacking away at the canes with an axe may actually destroy the plant, rather than encourage good healthy plant growing habits. When doing any gardening chores, it’s always wise to use the correct tool designed for each individual gardening job.
Secateurs should be used on canes that are no thicker than one inch. Using secateurs on very thick canes will result in a choppy cut with strands of bark loose around the cut end. It’s very difficult for the gardener to cut through thick canes with this tool. Instead, use long-handled loppers for this job. Loppers are particularly useful for canes up to two inches in diameter.
It’s best to use a pruning saw for very thick canes. This pruner saw is made to work through green wood as well as dead wood. Use a saw with a short blade, but ensure it’s curved slightly. This will help when cutting through the base of a very thick rose bush.
Always wear elbow-length leather gloves to avoid getting pricked by the rose. Rose pricks can cause rose thorn infection, which is becoming more and more common. It can leave the gardener with a nasty skin irritation that can take a long time to heal completely.
Keep your garden tools clean and bacteria-free by adding a drop of bleach to soapy water. If you’re cutting back a diseased shrub, clean the tool well before moving on to the next rose. Blackspot, a common rose disease, can easily be transferred to other roses in the garden.
Using the correct ratchet pruner tool for the pruning job will ensure a good clean cut, as well as a healthy rose bush for a long time.
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November 13th, 2011 at 9:05 pm
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