Dan's Papers - June 27, 2008 - Earthly Delights by April Gonzales

Gardeners could begin to relax and enjoy their creations this month if only it there was not so much pruning to do. The privet is abuzz with hedge clippers and emergency room personnel know what this equipment is called in several languages due to the usual mishaps involving fingers. So if you have electric or gas powered hedge clippers, remember that these are dangerous tools.

We prefer the gas powered hedge clippers with an adjustable extension blade. There is no electrical cord to cut and if there is no outlet handy, you do not need a generator. Tight spaces can be tough, but the adjustable blade which can be angled depending on whether you want a curve or a straight side and top, and the greater reach more than makes up for being a little cramped. These are heavier than electrical shears because of the gas tank and motor, but building up your biceps for bathing suit season is an added benefit. Make sure that the pruners are sharpened and well oiled before you begin, and remember there is a long lime at the repair shop for this chore, so plan ahead.

Having warned you off the bigger equipment I must also note that you can cut yourself pretty badly with a well sharpened pair of Felco's too. These are my favorite pruners or secateurs for the more sophisticated gardener, for several reasons. They don't break, they usually get lost, or someone steals them. They are built to be rebuilt and all kinds of parts can be ordered for a quick repair. Filing and oiling are all they really need and they are tough. Like a Timex they can take a licking ...

A number two Felco pruner can cut a one-inch branch easily, or be used for deadheading in the cut flower garden. The red handles help when it comes to putting them down somewhere and trying to find them again, which is my usual dilemma, but a good holster can prevent that from happening too. There are several models, an ergonomic one with a handle that turns as you apply pressure to cut just annoyed me, the smaller number 6 is more delicate and not as all purpose. One of us prefers the versatility of the larger model but I find it too big to fit in my pocket. There is a left handled model too.

Several other companies have produced fine pruners, but there may be a small glitch (like no replacement blades available). One year a friend gave me an elegant pair of forged steel pruners with wooden handles, but the closure was a loop at the bottom of the handles which promptly got crushed, and a pair of unclosed pruners does not fit in my pocket either so they have gone unused. No matter what you buy, try not to get the ones with the green handles. I guarantee that you will lose them somewhere in the grass. The Felco's are red for a good reason.

Loppers are also indispensable. There are many kinds available, and finding the right handle lenghth and cutting type is going to be a matter of trial and error. We have tried numerous kinds - ones with telescoping handles, with ratchet action, with by pass cutting blades and crushing blades. Ultimately we prefer a short or medium handle length as longer ones can get in the way when up in the trees. The bypass blades make a cleaner cut and can be re-sharpened periodically.

Handsaws are just as important when it comes to pruning. If they fold they are more easily managed, but there are numerous ones available. We have a couple Coronas and a few Felcos. Both do the job provided that the blade is sharp. In this case, always having spares on hand. Years ago an employee looked at these small saws and said, "It's too little, I can't use that" but they were mistaken. We recently cleaned up an ancient witch hazel with 4" plus limbs quite easily. Arborists may prefer a longer fixed blade hand saw with a holster. There are numerous Japanese handsaws available that are excellent, and using one can be a delight. This is true of all pruning tools. If you have the right one, properly sharpened and oiled, you will avoid frustration, scarring or tearing of the plant, or yourself for that matter, and will be able to appreciate the sculptural qualities of pruning more easily.

There are soft fuzzy white things on the undersides of all the viburnums and dogwoods. They have a certain charm, and are easily squishable, but more than likely there are too many to use that as your first line of defense. These are cottony scale, some insecticidal soap will take care of them, but make sure that when you spray you get the undersides of the leaves. Scale insects suck the sap from the plants and may cause some leaf loss, but an unattractive black mold usually colonizes the sticky clear liquid that they exude. Since they are hidden under the leaves you may not even notice the scale until the black mold appears.

For more than 20 years, April Gonzales has been involved in garden design, installation and maintenance on the East End, as well as specimen plant scouting and site supervision for landscape architects.