A simple thing that makes a real difference this spring: sharpen your secateurs before the season starts.
The difference between a sharp and blunt cut matters more than most people realise.
A sharp blade makes a clean cut. Clean cuts heal quickly. The plant seals the wound, fights off infection, and gets on with growing.
A blunt blade crushes the stem. Crushed tissue takes longer to heal — an open invitation for fungal disease and bacterial infection. The damage might not show immediately, but it weakens the plant over time.
What we'd recommend:
Sharpen — Use a sharpening stone or fine file. Hold the blade at its original angle, work in one direction. Five minutes. Do this at the start of the season and once or twice through summer.
Clean — Wipe the blade with surgical spirit between plants, especially if pruning anything diseased. This stops you carrying problems from one plant to another. We do this on every job.
Oil — A drop of camellia oil or WD-40 on the pivot keeps them smooth and prevents rust.
Check the spring — If blades don't close tightly, the spring may need replacing. Loose secateurs crush instead of cutting, even when sharp.
Professional tools don't need to be expensive — but they do need to be maintained.
📍 Surrey
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