All of those cutting tools get clogged up at the blades with tree sap, and some of it worse than others, during the working day.
Aside from the fact that this sap tends too stop the secateurs, for instance, from working properly and makes the blades stick, especially in the case of bypass secateurs, it also, if left on the blades, will cause the blades to corrode.
Many manufacturers recommend that you use their brand (or some other) sap removing agent which, obviously, is not a cheap option. Then again neither is having a pair of expensive secateurs die a death because of lack of care.
I have found that you do not need to buy expensive sap removers; baby wipes will do the job as effective as any sap remover and, as those contain lanolin, will also put a coat of that oil on to the blade. Nigh on two birds with the one proverbial stone.
Those wipes work wonders on the blades, so I have found, and if you buy the most basic ones of the wipes, such as Sainsbury's Basics version of them, they cost about a penny a wipe. Not something too worry about using, I am sure.
On the other hand you can get it cheaper still. A cloth impregnated with vinegar, whether brewed malt vinegar, wine vinegar or whichever other kind, is irrelevant. Again here you could buy the cheapest available, as I do as a disinfectant in the use of washing dishes, for instance. At 15p a bottle it is not a fortune either.
The only thing to remember is that if removing tree sap from secateurs and other cutting tool that you will have to put some oil or grease onto the blade afterwards. Ascetic acid will not be too kind to the steel if the blades are left uncoated. A little bit of Vaseline on the finger and rubbed over the b lade will do nicely as will a little chainsaw oil or such.
There you have it: no need for expensive sap remover and still clean secateurs that will go on and on.
P.S. This also works with knives, etc.
© M Smith (Veshengro), February 2009
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IOG CHOOSES PERENNIAL AS ITS CHARITY OF THE YEAR
The Institute of Groundsmanship (IOG) has announced that its 2009 Charity of the Year is Perennial – the Gardeners’ Royal Benevolent Society.
This national charity for people of all ages who work or have worked in horticulture provides help, advice and support people from the grounds care industry, arborists and other horticultural trades, when they are experiencing need or difficulties.
The IOG support for Perennial will include fundraising at branch and regional level via meetings, as well as Perennial’s presence at events such as the IOG’s nationwide In Action programme and IOG SALTEX.
Commenting, Debbie Lyne, the charity’s Director of Marketing and Fundraising, says: “We’re delighted to have been chosen as the IOG Charity of the Year. With the IOG’s support at last year’s IOG SALTEX and IOG Scotsturf exhibitions, Perennial is becoming more known among grounds care professionals and we’re extremely grateful to the IOG for providing us with this opportunity to increase support and raise awareness of our work within the industry.”
Geoff Webb, IOG Chief Executive, adds: “While intent on increasing the number of young people entering grounds care, the IOG also recognises the profession’s ageing population and I’m sure there are many who could benefit greatly from Perennial’s work. So, the IOG’s support is wholly appropriate – especially in the current economic climate.”
Visit www.perennial.org.uk for more information on Perennial and its services.
Colin Hoskins, Wildish Communications Ltd
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This national charity for people of all ages who work or have worked in horticulture provides help, advice and support people from the grounds care industry, arborists and other horticultural trades, when they are experiencing need or difficulties.
The IOG support for Perennial will include fundraising at branch and regional level via meetings, as well as Perennial’s presence at events such as the IOG’s nationwide In Action programme and IOG SALTEX.
Commenting, Debbie Lyne, the charity’s Director of Marketing and Fundraising, says: “We’re delighted to have been chosen as the IOG Charity of the Year. With the IOG’s support at last year’s IOG SALTEX and IOG Scotsturf exhibitions, Perennial is becoming more known among grounds care professionals and we’re extremely grateful to the IOG for providing us with this opportunity to increase support and raise awareness of our work within the industry.”
Geoff Webb, IOG Chief Executive, adds: “While intent on increasing the number of young people entering grounds care, the IOG also recognises the profession’s ageing population and I’m sure there are many who could benefit greatly from Perennial’s work. So, the IOG’s support is wholly appropriate – especially in the current economic climate.”
Visit www.perennial.org.uk for more information on Perennial and its services.
Colin Hoskins, Wildish Communications Ltd
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IOG SALTEX VISITORS SPEND TO THE TUNE OF A CREDIT-CRUNCHING £1.2 BILLION!
Visitors to last year’s IOG SALTEX will collectively spend around £1.2 billion as a result of visiting the UK’s leading open space management exhibition.
Independent research at the three-day show revealed that:
The research also reveals that around a third of the audience were new visitors to the show, thus enabling exhibitors to meet thousands of ‘new faces’ every year.
Commenting, IOG SALTEX Sales Director Clare Johnson says: “The figures certainly reinforce that IOG SALTEX is the most important show for the whole of the open space industry – from fine turf and sports surfaces through turf maintenance equipment to outdoor play, for example – and the visitor feedback gives us every confidence that despite the credit crunch the spending trend will continue at this year’s show, which is already nearly 90 per cent sold out.”
IOG SALTEX 2009 will be held on 8-10 September at Windsor Racecourse, Berks, and will embrace fine turf and sports surfaces, turf maintenance equipment, children’s outdoor play and safety surfacing, landscaping, contractors, commercial vehicles, outdoor leisure and facilities management, as well as software and security equipment. The show is attended by open space management professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors as well as local authority and outdoor leisure facility managers.
Colin Hoskins, Wildish Communications Ltd
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Independent research at the three-day show revealed that:
- Almost 1,000 visitors were from organisations that spend over £1 million each year on open space management products and services
- 410 were from organisations that spend over £500,000
- Nearly 800 visitors spend up to £500,000 each year, and
- Over 1,000 spend up to £50,000.
- The survey also showed that spending power has increased (to an average of £183,000 for each visitor with spending power) compared with visitors to the 2007 show, and that:
- Nearly 70 per cent of visitors to the show had buying power
- 68 per cent of these said IOG SALTEX influenced their purchasing decisions, and 73 per cent considered IOG SALTEX as the most important event for their business, and
- 59 per cent of visitors DO NOT usually see any non-supplier sales representatives.
- 77 per cent of visitors went to the show to look for new ideas or products – and 84 per cent said it was important to see equipment working in an outdoor environment
- 60 per cent of visitors do not plan to visit any other UK exhibition – and over 95 per cent do not plan to visit any overseas exhibition, and
- 28 per cent were looking for new or alternative suppliers.
The research also reveals that around a third of the audience were new visitors to the show, thus enabling exhibitors to meet thousands of ‘new faces’ every year.
Commenting, IOG SALTEX Sales Director Clare Johnson says: “The figures certainly reinforce that IOG SALTEX is the most important show for the whole of the open space industry – from fine turf and sports surfaces through turf maintenance equipment to outdoor play, for example – and the visitor feedback gives us every confidence that despite the credit crunch the spending trend will continue at this year’s show, which is already nearly 90 per cent sold out.”
IOG SALTEX 2009 will be held on 8-10 September at Windsor Racecourse, Berks, and will embrace fine turf and sports surfaces, turf maintenance equipment, children’s outdoor play and safety surfacing, landscaping, contractors, commercial vehicles, outdoor leisure and facilities management, as well as software and security equipment. The show is attended by open space management professionals and contractors – from groundsmen and greenkeepers through to play officers, architects, designers and surveyors as well as local authority and outdoor leisure facility managers.
Colin Hoskins, Wildish Communications Ltd
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