Lesson 1
Selecting the Right Equipment
Choose and maintain the correct tools to make clean, precise cuts without damaging your plants.
Tool essentials
Do not use blunt tools; they tear the stem and invite disease. You need bypass secateurs for smaller stems, and a sharp pruning saw or loppers for the thicker, woody base.
Preparation
Before you start, sterilise your blades with a cloth dipped in rubbing alcohol. This prevents the spread of fungal infections from one plant to another. Keep a sharpening stone in your pocket to touch up your blades every few bushes. The mistake most beginners make is using 'anvil' style cutters, which crush the stem. Use 'bypass' secateurs, which act like scissors. Invest in a pair of heavy-duty, thorn-proof leather gloves. Pruning is physical work, and roses are aggressive. By keeping your tools sharp and clean, you ensure the plant can heal itself rapidly after each cut. A clean cut heals in days; a jagged one can lead to stem dieback.