In horticulture school, one of the most important things they taught us was the importance of sanitizing your pruning equipment between every tree and sometimes even between every cut.
Why Tool Sanitization Matters
When you’re pruning, you’re essentially performing surgery on your trees. Each cut creates an open wound, which can serve as an entry point for bacteria, fungi, and viruses; things that fruit trees are particularly prone to. If your tools aren’t clean, you risk transferring pathogens between branches and even between trees.
For fruit trees, diseases like fire blight, canker, and leaf curl can spread quickly. A few extra minutes spent sanitizing your tools can mean the difference between a healthy orchard and years of struggle and headaches.
Did you know that one of the main spreaders of fruit tree diseases is negligent gardeners?
What You Need to Sanitize Your Tools
Here are some options to help you keep your tools santitzed during pruning:
Isopropyl Alcohol (70% or higher): Quick and effective for killing pathogens. (My personal prefrence)
Bleach Solution: A mix of one part bleach to nine parts water works well, but it’s harsher on tools and can damage your skin.
Disinfecting Wipes: Great for quick touch-ups between cuts but produces unnecessary garbage.
TIP: Use a abrasive cleaning block (not affiliated), a wire brush, brass comb or steel wool to keep your tools clean and free from sap or debris build up on your tools.
How I Maintain Sanitized Pruning Tools
Start With Clean Tools
Before I even touch a branch, I make sure my tools are free from dirt, sap, or plant material. A quick scrub with a wire brush, abrasive cleaning block or even just some warm, soapy water does the trick.
Always Disinfect Before Beginning
Once my tools are physically clean, I sanitize them with either isopropyl alcohol, bleach or disinfecting wipes. I prefer using isopropyl alcohol because it doesn’t need to be rinsed off and dries quickly. I always carry a small spray bottle of isopropyl with me and spray my blades regularly when pruning. For a deeper clean, I sometimes dip the blades directly into a jar of alcohol.
Always Disinfect Between Each Tree
Even if a tree looks healthy, I always sanitize my tools before moving on to the next one, just in case. Not all tree diseases are visible when the trees are dormant which is when the majority of pruning happens. Just for safety's sake, make a habit to always sanitize all pruning tools before starting on a new tree.
Sometimes Disinfect Between Every Cut
This is where things can feel tedious, but trust me.. it’s worth it! If I’m pruning a tree with visible signs of disease, I wipe down my tools with alcohol or a disinfecting wipe between each cut. Yes, every single cut. It feels like overkill at first, but it dramatically reduces the risk of spreading pathogens to other parts of the tree.
Oil Tools Regularly
At the end of the day, I give my tools a quick once-over with a drop of mineral oil to keep them sharp and rust-free. This will make the tools last longer and will cause less strain to use them.
A Few Tips I’ve Learned Along the Way
Have a Backup Tool: If you’re pruning multiple trees, it helps to have a second or even third pair of clean tools on hand so you can swap them out without disrupting your flow.
Inspect Your Trees First: Before pruning, look for signs of disease, like discolored bark or oozing sap. Knowing which trees or branches might be problematic helps you plan your cuts more carefully.
The Peace of Mind Is Worth It
Having a strict tool sanitization routine gives me the peace of mind that the hundreds of fruit trees I prune every year will be taken care of to the best of my ability. Sometimes tree pathogens are unavoidable due to enviromental conditions, insect infestations or other outside factors beyond our control but one thing I know that I can control is that I am not the reason a tree becomes infected. Plus, there’s something satisfying about knowing I’m doing everything I can to support their well-being.
If you want to book a fruit tree pruning service, consultation or coaching session please reach out to me at www.gardenalchemist.ca/contact