How to Trim Brown Agapanthus Leaves in California

Put on a long-sleeved shirt to protect your arms from irritation or scratches. Wear gloves to prevent your skin from coming into contact with the lily of the Nile plant's irritating sap.

Pour equal parts of bleach and water into a bucket or container so the solution is 3 to 4 inches deep. Submerge the blades of a pair of pruning shears in the solution. Let the blades soak for five minutes to give the bleach time to kill any pathogens on their surfaces. Pull the blades out of the solution and blot them dry with a paper towel or cloth.

Grasp a brown lily of the Nile leaf in one hand and lift it upwards, if necessary, to expose its base. Cut horizontally through the leaf with the pruning shears, 1/4 to 1/2 inch above its base.

Sterilize the blades after each cut to avoid spreading any diseases, soaking them in the bleach solution for one to three minutes. Wipe the blades dry with a cloth before making the next cut. Continue to cut off the brown leaves, one at a time.

Cut off any yellowing leaves in the same way, until only healthy green leaves remain. Gather the cut leaves and place them on a compost pile or a garden waste can.