Wipe the tool dry and oil it promptly to discourage corrosion.
Disinfecting garden tools uk.
This is the third of three articles on the subject of garden hygiene.
The second covered the hygiene aspects of moving plants.
Extremely muddy tools may need a wash down with a hose before drying with an old towel.
There are a number of products that can be used to disinfect tools and gardening surfaces and each has advantages and disadvantages.
Once you re ready to disinfect your tools dip them in 70 isopropyl alcohol or a mixture.
For larger tools like shovels and shears that have been in contact with an infected plant use paper towels to remove all dirt and sap.
Then soak the tool in a mix of 1 gallon water and 2 cups bleach for 10 minutes.
Dilute the bleach water thoroughly before discarding.
If the grime is caked on use a stiff wire bristle brush to remove the dirt and a paper towel dampened with disinfectant or paint thinner to remove any sticky residue.
All gardening tools used for trimming digging pruning or removing weeds should be disinfected consistently to prevent the spread of diseases and pests there are several methods and products that you can use to disinfect your tools and other gardening surfaces.
Ever read this advice.
The tools or at least the tool s blades are soaked in the bleach water for thirty minutes then rinsed and hung to dry.
I have nearly every book or internet article mentions sterilising or sterilizing if you can t spell.
Your springtime check list should include a comprehensive quick guide on how to clean garden tools.
As part of your gardening routine get into the habit of regularly cleaning your tools after use.
Much like a chef or surgeon s equipment cleaning gardening tools enhances the job at hand and even secures the health of your patients caring for garden tools will also extend the life of the equipment and save you money down the road.
How to clean hand tools.
Remove the gardening tools from the solution and dry.
And this one deals with that common advice to sterilise your tools.
One of the best ways of keeping your garden free from disease causing pathogens is by cleaning and disinfecting your gardening tools.
Bleach bleach is very inexpensive to use as a garden tool sanitizer.
To disinfect your gardening tools start by removing any dirt and debris with water.
Soak the steel parts of garden tools shovel blades rake tongs and pruning shear blades in the cleaning solution for 10 to 30 minutes.
If you have time oil the garden tool handles to help keep them smooth and prevent splinters.
Ensure that all steel parts of the tools come in.
Disinfecting your garden tools disinfecting and sterilizing your horticultural tools is a good way to prevent the spread of disease causing pathogens in your landscape.
It is mixed at a ratio of 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
