Keeping your garden healthy and in top shape starts with selecting the right tools.
Pruning shears and saws are two powerful tools with different strengths and weaknesses.
Once you’re familiar with how they work, it gets easier to pick a tool that will be best for your garden’s health and aesthetics.
In this post, we’ll compare pruning shears and saws in detail, discussing their basics, best use cases, applications, and more.
Let’s get started.
What are Pruning Shears?
Pruning shears are a handheld gardening tool designed to cut thick branches easily.
To cut a branch or stem with a pruner, you need to put it between the blades and squeeze the handles, just like you'd use a scissor.
The blades are usually made of stainless or carbon steel. SS steel resists rust, potentially prolonging the working life of the blades
Carbon steel blades hold their sharp edge longer, requiring less frequent sharpening.
Bypass pruning shears are more common, probably because of their simple and effective design.
The second main type of pruning shears are anvil pruners; they're mostly used for dry or dead wood due to their superior cutting power.
The last type has a ratchet mechanism. They make cuts in stages, making the job easier on your hands and wrists.
What is a Pruning Saw?
A pruning saw has a long, jagged blade attached to a handle.
Unlike pruning shears, where squeezing is involved, a saw uses a back-and-forth motion to cut branches.
Some pruning saws come with a folding design, making it easy for you to store and carry them. Long handle ones let you reach distant areas of your plants.
Saws come in different variations as well. A pruning saw with a curved design gives you better control whereas pole saws are great for cutting limbs way up high.
When to Use Pruning Shears
Let's talk about the gardening jobs that are best suited for pruning shears.
Think of pruning shears as scissors for your garden. They make perfect cuts with minimal effort.
Clean cuts mean healthier plants whereas less effort means you can prune more in less time.
Go with ratchet pruners if comfort is important for you. Or, maybe you have limited hand strength or just want to let the tool do all the heavy lifting.
Here are some use cases of pruning shears:
- Picking Ripe Tomatoes: Snipping ripe tomatoes without damaging the plant.
- Snipping Herbs: Snipping herbs like rosemary, mint, and basil with a pruner encourages new growth.
- Removing Fading or Dead Flowers: It's called deadheading. Use pruning shears to cut off old blooms and let your plant focus its energy into growing fresh flowers.
- Thinning Crowded Leaves: Sometimes, plants can get a little too bushy. You can get rid of this overgrowth by snipping away extra leaves and shoots.
Less crowded plants mean better intake of air and sunlight, which means fewer pests and less diseases.
Note that most pruning shears can cut branches that are up to ¾ inches thick (2 CM or around the thickness of your thumb).
So, the tool can handle anything below or equal to ¾ inches, whether it's woody stems or thin, soft, green growth.
When to Use a Pruning Saw
Now, if you're dealing with thick and woody stuff, a pruning saw should be your weapon of choice.
So, anything above the ¾ inches mark would fall under the pruning saw territory. In other words, a saw can handle branches that are too thick or big for pruning shears.
Here are a few common use cases of pruning saws:
- Cutting Dead Tree Limbs: Safely remove old, brittle branches before they fall.
- Reshaping Large Bushes or Hedges: Remove uneven growth with clean and deep cuts.
- Pruning Small Trees: Let more sunlight in by opening up the canopy with a pruning saw.
- Cutting Back Woody Shrubs: Remove old wood and make room for fresh healthy growth.
These were a few common applications of pruning shears and saws. There can be plenty more depending on your garden setup and what type of shaping or trimming you need to do.
Related: How to Choose Pruning Shears?
Pruning Shears Vs. Saw: How to Maintain Them
To get the most out of your pruning tools, clean them thoroughly after each use. Wipe off dirt, sap, and moisture with a dry cloth.
Disinfect them with rubbing alcohol (Or any disinfectant of your choice) between plants to avoid the spread of pests and diseases.
Plus, sharpen them every few weeks with a sharpening stone or file, especially during the busy season. You can use a file to sharpen the teeth of your saw.
Lastly, apply oil to the moving parts and store your tools in a cool, dry place. This protects them from rust, which can significantly reduce their working life.
Pruning Saw Vs. Pruning Shears: FAQ
Let’s talk about some frequently asked questions about pruning shears vs. pruning saws.
Should I Use Pruning Shears or a Saw?
For soft, small stems, use pruning shears. If you can easily fit a branch between the blades and can make a clean cut with one press, shears are the way to go. Go with a saw for thicker, older, and bigger branches.
Which Tool Is Best for Pruning?
There’s no single best option; pruning shears and saws have different applications. Saws do the heavy lifting while shears let you do detailed work. You may need both to keep your garden in top shape.
How Do I Choose a Pruning Saw?
Blade length (8 - 12 inches), teeth (Coarse or fine), grip, and a folding design are a few important factors to consider before you invest in a pruning saw.
What is a Pruning Saw Good For?
A pruning saw is perfect for trimming back crowded branches that block sunlight. It’s also great for removing dead or diseased wood.
Conclusion
Pruning shears and pruning saws serve unique purposes. If you have a variety of plants in your garden, you might need both of them.
Shears are great for pruning thinner stems and branches. They let gardeners make clean cuts on almost everything that’s less than ¾ inches thick.
Pruning saws, on the other hand, help you handle tasks pruning shears typically can’t: Pruning branches that are thicker than ¾ inches.
Also, note that both tools come in different variations. For instance, anvil shears are better suited for dead wood and ratchet shears are the most convenient to use.
Read More: Pruning Shears Vs. Hedge Trimmers