Use The Right Tools To Prune Your Garden

Knowing when to prune is important, but so is using the right tools. The most commonly used pruning tool is hand shears. These shears are used to cut branches 3/4 inch in diameter and smaller. Hand shears are classified as bypass pruners which cut with a scissor action, or anvil pruners, which have a blade pressing against a flat bottom edge.

Lopping shears are used on branches up to 1 1/2 inches wide. Use a saw on branches more than 1 1/2 inches thick. A pruning knife or wood rasp are useful to smooth edges of large cuts to promote rapid healing, says Dr. Dave Williams, Extension horticulturist with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System.

"It's important to keep tools sharp, lubricated and clean," says Williams. "Some shears and loppers are made with removable blades, making sharpening and replacing blades easier. Clean and coat tools with light oil after each use to prevent rust."

When pruning diseased branches, remember to dip the shears in a disinfectant such as a mild Clorox solution after each cut to prevent the spread of disease, Williams says.