Getting the best pruning shears is a necessity. Your garden pruners are one of your best tools as a gardener. How else do you get rid of excess growth or keep your plants trimmed to an appropriate size?
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But choosing the right hand pruners for your task can be a matter of personal preference, or it can be job-specific. There’s a variety available to choose from. Do you need ergonomically designed secateurs? Perhaps something with a fine point? Or do you just need good bypass pruners that’ll handle most basic tasks?
Today, I’ll help you break down the various components of a quality pair of gardening shears and decide what, exactly, you’ll need to get your job done. With a quality pair of garden clippers, you’ll have no problem keeping everything properly trimmed!
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The 10 Best Pruning Shears You Can Buy
1. Felco F-2 Classic Manual Hand Pruner
Our video even showed how to de-rust this specific pair of pruning shears… how could I not recommend these?
- Anvil blade with a sap grooveA hardened bolt and nut to assure exact adjustment…Rubber cushion and shock absorber
In all seriousness, the Swiss company Felco makes an amazing bypass pruner. Each blade is a high quality hardened steel blade that’s built to cut easily. Easily sharpened, they make quick work of whatever you need to cut through.
Lightweight handles are dipped in a slightly-cushiony plastic material that is easy to hang onto. Further, the bumper is cushioned to offer shock absorption and reduce strain when you close the blades. Slightly ergonomic in shaping, the handles provide maximum force with minimal effort. I consider these to be the best pruners out there, without question.
Made the same way for over 50 years, Felco’s hand pruner is used worldwide by professionals and amateurs alike. They are easy to maintain, can be micro-adjusted to adjust for blade wear over the years, and will last you for a lifetime. In fact, they have a limited lifetime warranty to prove it.
These are truly some of the best garden shears on the market today, and it’s worth the money you’ll spend.
2. Corona RP 3230 Ratchet Anvil Pruner
I personally own a pair of these Corona anvil pruning shears, and I love them. Let me explain why.
- Rachet Pruner: designed for reduced effort and…Coated Non-Stick Blade: allows for smooth cutting…Suitable for right and left hand use
The rigid handle has just enough non-skid material on it to keep a secure grip, but allows me to turn them easily to get into odd-angled places. That can be a major benefit when trying to trim dead branches off of a rose bush.
Ratcheting action enables me to simply pump the handle a few times to cut through thicker branches. I easily sheared through a thick and woody kale stalk at the end of the season last year to break it down for the compost pile, even when it reached sizes of over an inch.
Cleaning the sharp blade is simple with these, although you do need to clear the anvil regularly so the sap groove doesn’t get built-up materials in it. That’s doubly essential if you’ve cut through branches with rot or other fungal or bacterial disease issues. You don’t want that to spread elsewhere in the garden.
These are not the fanciest model on the market. But they work, and they work extremely well at a low price. I can’t fault these anvil pruning shears in any way.
3. Tabor Tools K77A Straight Pruning Shears
Do you have a lot of deadheading to do? Planning on contouring the topiary you’ve got in the garden? Harvesting fresh veggies? These straight blade pruning shears are your friend.
- LONG REACH. With these shears, you will reach…STAINLESS STEEL. Stainless steel design blades…OPEN-CLOSE CLIP. This pruner has sturdy handles…
Most people tend to prefer a good pair of bypass pruning shears for most tasks. Still, this straight-blade model will be some of the best pruning shears you could use for smoothing and contouring. If you’ve got a hedge you’re trying to even out, you can get a perfectly smooth trim across its surface with these.
The shock-absorbing spring easily opens these shears after each cut. The blades are stainless steel and will work for small and large hands alike. You won’t cut branches with these, but you can use them harvesting herbs, trimming tips, or even indoor hydroponics use.
A bit more specialized than most of today’s recommendations, you’ll know if you really need this style. But if you discover you do, this is the pair you’ll want to have in your hands.
4. Fiskars Softouch Micro-Tip Pruning Snips
I’ve been using Fiskars Softouch Micro-Tip pruning snips for literally years. Not only are these some of the best detail pruners I’ve ever encountered, but they work extremely well as a pair of scissors. Just be sure to keep your pruning snips separate from any you’d use as scissors!
These are not designed to be used on heavy, hard, or woody material. For green, fresh materials such as flower or leaf stems, these are phenomenal. I use them for harvesting basil, pruning back my massive amounts of catmint, and separating beans from the vine.
These are also great for shearing off wheatgrass cleanly without pulling it out by the root, or trimming back old cat grass before starting a new batch. And if you’re trying to do detail work on your miniaturized plants, these get in tight spaces without crushing damage. They’re great for people with small hands, but even people with large hands can put these to good use.
All things considered, I can’t sing the praises of the Fiskars design enough. Given the number of other companies who’re emulating the style, I think everyone else agrees.
5. Hydrofarm HGPP400C Precision Curved Blade Pruner
The curved blade on these pruning snips allows you to effortlessly harvest flowers in quick succession. Get the perfect cut each and every time by simply exerting light pressure on the grip. The pointed tips allow you to get easily between leaves and stems to easily trim out the exact one that you want.
Surgical stainless steel blades are easy to sterilize and to keep clean so that you don’t have to worry about spreading plant diseases. These come with a handy holster, making it a breeze to have them available at a moment’s notice.
Ideal for use with hydroponics grows or in a traditional garden, these snips are the perfect thing for a quick and easy trim, and are a great choice.
6. Happy Hydro Titanium Coated Trimming Scissors
Traditionalists in the art of bonsai will appreciate something which looks more like an older style of bonsai shears. However, these have an added benefit which stems from a more modern world.
- DELICATE SNIPS are quick and easy with our 60mm…STAINLESS STEEL trimming scissors are ultra-light,…SHORTER BLADES are excellent for floral…
Stainless steel blades provide strength, but the titanium coating over the steel ensures that even sticky stone pine sap can be easily cleaned from their surface. In addition, there’s a soft rubberized padding inside the handle which eases fatigue.
The springless action of these is unlike most other shears which we are featuring today. This is meant to reduce hand strain. And the short blades of the scissors allow you to easily trim delicate leaves or slender branches.
For those who engage in the artform of miniaturization, these are a godsend.
7. Felco F-6 Classic Pruner For Smaller Hands
All the power of the Felco bypass pruning shears, but ergonomically designed for smaller hands? Sign me up.
- Ultra-durable - The premium pruning clippers are…Ergonomic design - The garden scissors have a…Precise pruning - This bypass pruner offers a…
As I said above, Felco makes the best bypass pruner on the market. How could I not recommend a Felco bypass pruner for people whose hands are smaller than average?
Solid steel construction, easy to sharpen and to clean, and with a limited lifetime warranty, these are seriously the best pruning shears you could invest in. They cost more than you will spend for other styles, but you get a high quality bypass pruning tool for your money.
8. gonicc 8″ Professional SK-5 Anvil Pruning Shears
I’ve got friends who work in the winemaking industry, and one thing you learn when maintaining a vineyard is that you need something that will go straight through tough grape vines with ease.
- √ SK5 HIGH CARBON STEEL BLADES - Quality blade…√ EFFORTLESS CUTTING BY PULLEY MECHANISM - The…√ ERGONOMIC COMFORTABLE DESIGN - Ergonomically…
This pair of professional steel anvil pruners has an exceptionally-deep channel in the anvil base. This provides support for the stem on either side as the carbon steel blade shears through branches or vines.
You can opt to use bypass shears for trimming as well, and those leave a slightly cleaner cut. But when you’re going to be cutting hundreds upon hundreds of vines back, you’ll probably want the simplicity of this set of shears. Just remember to clean the channel out regularly to remove any sap buildup.
9. Fiskars Professional Bypass Pruning Shears
Ergonomic handles are just the start for this pair of bypass pruners. Adjustable blade tension makes it so you can fine-tune and control your cutting force and precision. A sap groove clears away sticky material with ease, enabling you to keep working despite oozing branches.
- Ideal for cutting stems and light branchesBlade tension can be adjusted to your hand…Angled cutting head reduces wrist fatigue and…
Able to cut branches up to an inch in diameter, Fiskars’ professional blades can be easily replaced when they wear down. They’re comfortable in your hands and will make your job go smoothly and easily.
10. gonicc 8″ Professional Premium Titanium Bypass Shears
A drop-forged body and handles securely hold steel blades that have been coated with titanium. Able to cut through 3/4″ diameter tree branches with ease, these are a strong and very functional model which are capable of doing their job well.
- Drop forged body and handles.Quality blade made of Premium Titanium steel with…Ergonomically designed non-slip handles are…
Their nonstick handles have just enough padding to reduce blister formation and provide a comfort grip for your hands. On the lower jaw, a sap groove enables gooey material to come free of the blade and reduce sticky situations.
Whether you’re trimming branches or tidying up your shrubbery, you’ll find these to be a great pair of shears for an excellent price.
How To Choose The Best Pruning Shears
Choosing the best pruning shears really depends on the type of work you’re going to be doing.
Are you doing delicate and detailed trimming work, or are you trying to break down a dry and woody bush to get rid of it? Is your task a standard pruning job or something more delicate?
Let’s go over some of the most common features of pruning shears and what they offer. This should help you to at least determine what type of shears you need for your job.
Blade Styles And Types Of Cuts
Just like a quality pair of loppers, pruning shears have different styles of blades.
For most, bypass pruning shears are the perfect choice. An upper blade slides past the lower blade in a scissor-like motion, creating a clean cut. Bypass pruners are great for most pruning tasks, and are easy to clean and to maintain.
Anvil pruning shears have an upper blade that comes down on top of a flat, anvil-like surface. There’s a notch in the lower anvil side that allows for the blade to cut all the way through the material.
These anvil pruners are best used on dry or dead materials to break them into smaller segments. Their cutting style can cause crushing damage to green stems.
Straight blade hand pruners offer a straight, scissor-style blade. While they’re not as popular as bypass or anvil shears, they can be very useful, especially when getting into odd spots.
Finally, there are snip-style pruning shears or pruning snips. These are designed like a pair of narrow, sharp-tipped scissors, and are meant to do delicate pruning work. They’re available in straight or slightly curved blade formats.
If you’re doing delicate trimming, a pair of snips may be your best choice. Just be aware that snips can’t handle anything too thick, and are usually used on green soft materials.
Blade Quality
The majority of pruning shears are constructed of steel, but there are two varieties used.
Carbon steel blades are extremely tough and can easily cut through a wide variety of materials. These must be kept clean and oiled regularly to prevent rust, but can last for years. Carbon steel is also quite easy to sharpen as needed.
Stainless or other lower grades of steel blade are also relatively common, but often, these are coated with a non-stick material. This nonstick coating can help prevent sap buildup on the sharp blades. However, the lower grades of steel are at risk of developing dings and nicks in the blade surface over time.
Cutting Mechanism
There are two basic cutting mechanisms for pruning shears: springback or ratcheted.
Springback pruners, bypass pruners or snips mostly, are those which have a heavy spring that will open the jaws of the shears once your hand grip eases. Both are used for light to medium-weight pruning duties on softer green wood.
Ratchet pruners are usually those with an anvil-style blade. A ratchet system just behind the blade’s pivot point helps to provide extra pressure to cut through heavier, denser materials.
This is especially important when trying to break down a lot of deadwood or condensing materials to put them in a compost pile.
Grip Coatings
Many different grip coatings are available, and it’s important to pick the right ones for you.
Soft grips such as the Fiskars “Softouch” series provide a reasonably soft surface which gives under the pressure of your hand.
These are much more comfortable when doing extended trimming than a hard surface, and the slight texturing of the soft grip keeps it from sliding out of your hand.
PVC or rubberized grips are usually created by literally dipping the metal handles of a pair of pruning shears into liquid PVC plastic or rubber/silicone.
They’re usually reasonably comfortable to hold, but if your hand gets sweaty the surface may become slick. Wearing gloves while using this style tends to stop slipperiness.
Rigid grips are those made of metal, occasionally paired with hard plastic, resin, or PVC.
Extremely durable, these are unlikely to break even if you drop them repeatedly. The rigid handle can be uncomfortable with extended use.
Ergonomics
Handle shapes can be vastly different. Some of the handles angle outward, creating a slight V shape when closed. Others form a straight line when closed, and have a slim profile.
The style you select should be ones which are easy for you to keep a good grip on. It’s really a matter of personal preference, but it’s essential you pick a pair which is comfortable for you.
Ergonomic grips are found on both bypass or anvil-style blades. The lower handle has indentations for your fingers, making them unlikely to slide out of your hand.
Bumpers
Some varieties of pruning shears may have a bumper in place.
This little, raised piece of plastic or rubber is mounted on the inner part of the pruning shear grip. It prevents bypass shears from continuing the arc of their cut well past the lower blade.
Bumpers aren’t on anvil shears because the upper blade is stopped by the anvil itself.
They may or may not be in evidence on your pruning snips. When they’re present, they’ll usually be hidden beneath the spring, or located right next to it.
Safety Locks
Unlike loppers, most pruning shears have a safety lock. This simple mechanism will keep the jaws closed when they’re not in use.
For any of the springback styles, these are essential. Otherwise, your blades remain wide open and are a potential danger in your toolbox.
Look for a safety lock which is rigid and will hold up to multiple openings and closings without breaking. Alternately, get a sheath that will keep your blades closed when your pruning shears aren’t in use.
Caring For Your Pruning Shears
Once you’ve got a quality pair of pruning shears, you need to take care of them. Often, new gardeners don’t think about this, but it’s important for multiple reasons.
It’s important to keep your pruning shears cleaned and sterilized. Many plant diseases are easily transferred from one plant to the next. Cleaning your shears between uses, and disinfecting them while pruning, can reduce the transmission of these plant diseases.
But it also goes a bit further than that. Keeping your pruning shears cleaned and well-oiled can extend their lifespan. Pair that with a good sharpening, and your shears will last for years to come.
What if you’ve already been lax and allowed your pruning shears to get rusty? Consider cleaning them up to see if they can be recovered before you buy a new pair. This video will show you how!
Let’s face it: nobody wants to get a bad pair of pruning shears. Start out by getting the best pruning shears you can find, and you’ll be happier for it. Plus, you won’t have to replace them season after season.
