Good garden hygiene is one of the strongest weapons the gardener has against the risk of pests and diseases. This means removing general garden debris and weeds on a regular basis to prevent them from becoming a refuge and a source of food for unwanted visitors. It is also important to remove and burn diseased material immediately, to stop it spreading to other plants. Plant pots and other equipment such as secateurs and knifes should be cleaned between use so that infections and diseases cannot be spread from plant to plant.