Message to Landscape Maintenance Contractors and Homeowners

As I was walking my property, I was thinking about landscape maintenance contractors and what they should be doing when going from job to job. As I thought about it more, I realized it would be a good message to homeowners as well.

Alcohol wipes are safe and easy way to sanitize pruners.

Sanitize Pruning Equipment

Tree and plant diseases like Sooty Canker and Fireblight and, who knows even though its not proven, Ash Decline. We know that many plant diseases are passed along from plant to plant and residence to residence by unsanitary equipment, hands and clothing. Sanitize your pruning equipment between residences. If you see a plant or tree that you are trimming and it doesn't look right, SANITIZE any pruning equipment you use on it. Then educate your customer. Let them know you are doing it and why. Make it a difference between your company and another who doesn't know or, worse yet, doesn't care!

BTW, most tree diseases are spread when the tree is actively growing so a good time to prune is during the winter months. ALWAYS sanitize your tools when plants are growing.

Sanitize Mowers

Besides lawn diseases, lawn weeds can be passed on from property to property on unclean mowers. Everyone is using a mulching mower now but they still need to be cleaned, particularly when a disease is active. Our lawn diseases are mostly "hot weather diseases" like Summer Blight. Many of our worst weeds I hear complaints about are "winter weeds" like Poa annua. Spreading lawn diseases and weeds lasts 12 months long. Ask to use your customers hose and wash mowers between jobs, Turn the mower over and spray the blade with a sanitizer before the next job.

Handling Your Boss

More money is a good incentive. Instead of being the "tree hugger" or "plant person" on a job, use the money angle. Charge a little more for the work you do. Or tell them it will reduce costs. It costs a bit more to sanitize your tools and equipment but your customers will pay for it. As I always tell my students, "Pursue the HIGHEST dollar you can get, not the LOWEST!" Charge for your time and let the customer know you are doing something about the spread of plant diseases and weeds.