June ~ Month for Pruning in the garden

I found this over at Fiskars.com and thought you might like to see it......I love popping over there for all the latest Fiskars news...have you been over there....it's a truelly amazing site.....you can click on the Country and then you can see where you can purchase these fabulous Fiskars Gardening Tools in Australia.

It's that time of the year when we prune all our roses.....we have soooooo many up our driveway along both sides...and we also have some carpet roses out the back garden....so we shall be getting out our trusty Fiskars Pruners.....

xoxo

Lyn

Arthritis Australia and Arthritis New Zealand gives selected FISKARS gardening products the thumbs up

Several of FISKARS’ prized garden tools have received the Ease-of-Use certification from Arthritis Australia and Arthritis New Zealand, just in time for the key pruning season in June.

The program, which is supported by independent testing at Georgia Tech Research Institute in Atlanta, USA, has recognised the innovation of the FISKARS PowerGear™ range that allows people living with arthritis to comfortably use the gardening tools that have been awarded the Ease-of-Use certification.

The FISKARS products that have been accredited are –

All three of FISKARS PowerGear™ Hand Pruners.
Two of FISKARS PowerGear™ Loppers.
One of FISKARS PowerGear™ Hedge Shears.

Passed through rigorous scientific and consumer testing, the FISKARS PowerGear™ range employs ergonomic design features to amplify cutting power. Boasting a unique gearing mechanism that multiplies cutting force, comfortable handles to reduce pressure on joints, and on the pruners, even a handle that rolls to follow the hand’s natural clenching motion – the certified products allow people living with arthritis to perform pruning tasks they would have otherwise been unable to complete.

Arthritis Australia CEO, Ainslie Cahill explained, “The accredited PowerGear™ products are lightweight and have a geared design that reduces the level of effort required to cut for people living with arthritis.”

“The Ease-of-Use accreditation seeks to highlight user-friendly products that allow these people to manage day-to-day tasks more readily, and pursue favourite pastimes such as gardening,” Ainslie said.

FISKARS Marketing Manager, Nic Naes, is proud that a number of the FISKARS products have received the accreditation.

“Throughout our 360 year history, FISKARS has been synonymous with user-friendly and innovative products. The Ease-of-Use certification is testimony that the FISKARS PowerGear™ technology truly makes gardening easier and more enjoyable. People living with arthritis can be assured that the Ease-of-Use certified FISKARS products have been designed with their needs in mind.”

Facts on arthritis from Arthritis Australia:

Nearly one in five Australians; 3.85 million are living with arthritis.
2.4 million or 62% of those with arthritis are of working age (15 - 64 years).
You are more likely to get arthritis than heart disease, cancer, asthma, diabetes or mental illness.
By 2050, 7 million Australians are likely to be living with arthritis, an increase of 83%.

Prune in June with FISKARS

June is the ideal time to prune. Let gardening expert Adam Woodhams guide you through some key pruning tips to help you and your plants blossom in the garden.

Want to know the simple tricks for filling your garden with masses of new foliage and an abundance of flowers and fruit? Pruning is one of the simplest ways to keep your garden productive and looking its best and June is one of the best months to get out and snip away. Not only are many plants in their dormant phase, making them ideal candidates for pruning, it’s a great way to enjoy some warming winter sunshine. So grab the right gear for the job, apply a few simple tips and you’ll find the ‘chore’ of pruning quickly becomes an enjoyable experience.

Tips on tool selection –

Secateurs or pruners must fit your hand and your grip well;

When fully open they should be able to sit across your open hand and be opened and closed without using your other hand.
Do they have a suitable snug, ergonomic fit? This is important for comfort during extended use.
FISKARS PowerGear™ Pruners come in two sizes to ensure a great fit and comfortable use for just about every hand size.

When the going gets tough call in the big guns;

When you need to cut branches larger than 20mm switch to loppers.
Select a handle length that suits the job - longer handles provide more leverage whereas shorter are ideal for getting into tight spots.
Look for smart features such as gearing, it will increase cutting force therefore reducing effort - FISKARS PowerGear™ Loppers multiply your cutting force by nearly three times!

General Pruning Tips –

As different plants have varying requirements know the plant you are pruning, if in doubt ask your local garden centre.
Blunt pruning tools damage plants. All FISKARS pruning tools have quality cutting surfaces that will stay sharper for longer.
Always prune with the cutting blade closest to the trunk.
When shaping take a little off, step back and look. You can take more off but you can’t put it back!
Remove dead or diseased wood and crossing or congested branches.
Prune to a branch, the trunk or to just above a bud.
Ensure cuts are clean and slope to allow water to run-off.
Keep blades clean, you’ll be cutting efficiently and reduce the chance of transferring diseases from plant to plant.
After pruning, clean your cutting tools and store them in a safe, dry place.

Plants to Prune in June –