If you’ve ever mangled your plants, you know the importance of picking the right pruning shears. Almost every gardener has been there, staring at a tangled web of branches wondering which pruning shear would be the right fit for the job.
Even the basic know-how of how different types of pruners work will help you pick the right one for any gardening task. This is why in this post, we’ll cover their types and which one is ideal for which gardening application.
Let’s dive in.
The Importance of Picking the Right Pruning Shears
Before we discuss the types of pruning shears, let’s consider why it’s an important step for every gardening session.
Choosing the right pruning shears isn’t only important for your plant’s health, it also minimizes the strain on your hands, making your gardening life easier. With the wrong tool, you also create jagged cuts that invite plant diseases.
Different Types of Pruning Shears
Not all pruning shears are created equal; each type has a unique superpower that makes it better than the others for specific tasks.
Here are the different types of pruning shears you should know about and when to use them.
Bypass Pruning Shears
These work like scissors, two blades sliding past each other for a smooth, clean cut. Their ideal use case? Flowers, young shrubs, and fruit tree branches.
The benefit of using them? The precise cuts help your plants stay healthy and heal fast. Avoid using them on thick, dry wood or branches thicker than one inch.
Anvil Pruning Shears
Anvil shears consist of a single sharp blade that presses against a sturdy, flat surface (The anvil). These pruners are tailor-made for dead wood and tough, dry branches.
For instance, use them to clear out old, woody lavender. They can also chop through twigs easily. However, stick with dead stuff. Anvil pruners can damage live tissue.
Dive Deeper: Bypass vs. Anvil Shears (Which One to Choose?)
Ratchet Pruning Shears
Ever faced a stubborn branch that tests your grip strength? Or, maybe you're after a pruner that takes the ease of pruning to the next level.
Ratchet pruners are here to help. They use a ratchet system that cuts in multiple stages, making the job easier for your hands. Ratchet pruning shears are ideal for:
- Elderly gardeners or people with limited hand mobility
- Cutting thick branches (Around 1.5 inches in diameter)
Probably the only downside to using these shears is their slower cutting mechanism. For quick, repetitive cuts, you may want to look for a different type.
Loppers
These are pruners on steroids, offering more leverage with long handles. The extended length makes them ideal for reaching high or distant branches.
Also, they can slice through limbs up to 2 inches thick. However, keep in mind that loppers tend to be heavy, which makes them not so great for gardens with tight spaces.
How to Choose the Right Pruning Shear for Your Needs
Picking the right pruning tool boils down to three things: Your garden, your hands, and the quality of the tool.
Match Your Garden
Think about your gardening needs. If you’re going to cut soft, live stems (Like young shrubs), bypass shears will do the trick. If you’re against dead wood or tough branches, an anvil pruner should be your weapon of choice. And, if you have to work with tall trees and high branches, loppers are your friend. Lastly, for stubborn cuts, and gardeners with limited grip strength, ratchet shears would be perfect.
Fit Your Hands
In gardening, comfort is important, especially if you’re pruning for hours. First, test the grip and make sure it’s not too heavy for your hands. Gardeners with limited hand mobility or strength should go for pruners with a ratchet system as it eases the stress.
Quality Check
The quality of a pruning shear is of prime importance. Why? Because you don't want your tool to become useless after a few months.
What should you look for? Get pruning shears with rust-resistant steel. Sap and moisture can kill your blades if there isn't enough protection. Even better if you can buy a pair with replaceable handles, blades, and springs.
Keeping Your Shears in Prime Condition
Even the best, highest-quality pruning shears won't last if you don't maintain them. Stainless steel blades resist rust but aren't rust-proof. Having a regular cleaning/disinfecting routine can help prolong the tool’s working life.
Post-Use Care
Use a damp cloth to clean the dirt and sap from your gardening tool after every use. To prevent the spread of diseases, disinfect the blades by rubbing some alcohol on them.
Keep them Sharp
A dull blade might do more harm than good. Keep your shears sharp to create smooth cuts with less effort. You can use a sharpening stone for that; run the blade with the stone at a 20-degree angle.
Rust-Prevention
Rust is a metal’s worst enemy. Your pruning shear’s blades are made of it. Even stainless steel isn’t completely resistant to rust. The good thing is it’s easy to keep rust at bay; simply apply a light coat of oil after every use and store your tools in a clean, dry spot.
Types of Pruning Shears: FAQs
Let’s address some questions related to the types of pruning shears you might have in your mind.
How Many Different Types of Pruning Shears Are There?
There are four main types of pruning shears: Bypass, anvil, ratchet, and loppers. Each one has its own strengths, so pick one that’s right for the job and your gardening needs.
What is Another Name for Pruning Shears?
You might hear people calling pruning shears “Secateurs”, often in British gardening circles. In American English, they’re often called “Hand pruners”.
What is the Difference Between Shears and Pruners?
In gardening lingo, both “Shears” and “Pruners” mean the same thing. They’re often used interchangeably for handheld cutting tools.
Conclusion
Pruning shears come in different types and styles. Knowing each one’s strengths and weaknesses helps you pick the right tool for the job.
For instance, delicate blooms are best treated with bypass pruners; anvil shears are best for cutting through dead wood; if you want more reach, loppers are your friend.
Treat your gardening tools with care and they’ll reward you with a clean and healthy garden for years.