A good pair of garden pruners is a must for every gardener. Pruning is as essential to flower gardening as water is to living.
Pruning improves both the look and health of your garden plants, trees and shrubs. Pruners are used to control the size and shape of your plants, remove dead foliage and spent blooms, and trim away weak or diseased stems.
Types of Pruning Shears
Bypass pruners make nice, clean cuts using two curved blades that slice through stems in a manner similar to scissors. One blade is sharpened on the outside edge and it slips by a thicker, unsharpened blade. Bypass pruners can cut stems up to ¾" diameter.
Anvil pruners have a single sharp, straight blade that closes down on a flat edge. The slicing action is similar to a knife against a cutting board. Anvil pruners work well for removing dead wood but tend to smash one side of newer, green stems.
Ratchet pruners are anvil-type pruning shears with a mechanism that cuts in stages, going progressively deeper until an effortless cut can be made. Ratchet pruners are ideal for gardeners with limited hand strength or those who have a great deal of pruning to do. Ratchet pruners are also a good choice for cutting branches that are larger than ½ inch in diameter.
Loppers are long-handled, heavy-duty pruning shears useful for cutting larger tree branches and thick rose canes. The extra reach is especially handy when pruning rosebushes.
Hedge shears are long-handled, flat-bladed pruners that resemble oversized scissors. These shears are designed to make large, even cuts either horizontally or vertically, and aren't suitable for use beyond trimming hedges.
Which pruners are right for you?
Bypass pruners are the most widely used style, and a good choice if you can only afford one pair of pruning shears. Ideally, you should have more than one pair of garden pruners, for different pruning chores.
No matter which garden pruners you decide to buy, it's a good idea to hold them in your hand first. You'll want to see how the pruners feel, and whether the weight and grip is comfortable for you.
Cost of Garden Pruners
You can find cheap pruning shears for under $10, but they won't last very long. Instead, buy the very best garden pruners you can afford—it will save you money and time in the long run. With proper care, high-quality pruning shears will last a lifetime.
Many gardeners consider Felco pruners the gold standard of pruning shears. They feature hardened-steel blades (which can be sharpened), alloy handles, and replaceable parts. Felco pruners cost between $45 to $70, but they are superior shears and worth the price.
There are several sizes of Felco pruners to choose from, including the classic #2 model and their highly popular #6 model which is perfect for gardeners with small hands. If you can't find Felco pruners, two other high-quality brands to consider are Corona and ARS.
Pruning may not be your favorite outdoor chore, but with the right pair of high-quality garden pruners, your work will go smoother and faster.
