Maintenance is an important part of keeping your roses and shrubs in good health and attractiveness. However, if you ever get it wrong, it can be potentially lethal to your cherished plants!
Something as important as this deserves the best garden tool for the job. So continue reading as we go over our reviews of the top garden shears on the market at the moment.
Best Garden Shears Buying Guide
Still not sure which of those shears are right for you? read on and we’ll help you discover the right shears for your pruning works.
The Kinds Of Plants You Should Be Pruning
Not all plants require the same amount of pruning. In an established hedgerow, do you need to prune through thick and woody stalks? Do you have to deal with stout rose stems? Do you need something to deal with the green, whippy leaves of plants like jasmine or roses?
Presumably, the answer may be “all of the above.” If that’s the case, you’ll probably want to acquire two pairs of shears to obtain the greatest results. This is due to the fact that the basic design of shears has a significant impact on how they operate with various plants.
Anvil designs are usually the finest for woody foliage. Shears with a single cutting blade that cuts against a solid anvil are known to function appropriately. Both the stalks and the leaves are efficiently chopped and pruned effectively. Nonstick-coated blades perform well here as well, as they cut smoothly through thicker plants.
Bypass shears, on the other hand, are usually preferable for pruning plants with greener stems. Similar to scissors, these shears have two curved blades that cross over each other. Even on sticky stalks, they’ll make a clean cut.
When it comes to sap, it can be the plague when it comes to pruning. Because the sticky substance can easily gum up your shears, you’ll need to pause and wash the blades before proceeding. Look for shears with grooves to stay far away from the blades to avoid such incidence.
Consider Delicate Trim Or Hard Pruning
Narrow, straight-edged blades are ideal for topiary if you want a manicured look. You’ll have to make sacrifices in terms of power, but they’ll give you a nice result. Just make sure the blades are in good shape and are sharp.
If you have a vast area of tougher vegetation, choose shears with curved blades. Look for well-cushioned handles as well. If you’re going to be working for a long time, you’ll want to be comfortable.
Consider The Kinds Of Hands You Have
Please, don’t be in a hurry to say that your hands are, “The same kind with four fingers and a thumb.” What we mean is, what is the size of your hands? What is the length and strength of your wrists and fingers?
When it comes to size, the most important consideration is how far the handles open. Smaller hands may find it unpleasant if the distance is too wide. You’ll definitely feel it if you’re pruning a huge area.
To aid with the strain, look for choices with a ratchet or pulley design. Also consider shears that are built specifically for little hands.
Make sure the handles are long enough for you to grip securely if you have larger hands. Longer handles will also provide you with extra leverage.
A ratchet design will greatly improve your pruning experience if you have weaker hands or aches and pains. You’ll receive amazing results with a lot less work. When you’re finished, your hands will applaud you.
Check out the cushioning on the grips, whether your hands are big or small. It will make a significant difference in your comfort if you use your shears frequently. To help you further, we have compiled a list of the best garden shears that you can choose from.
Best Garden Shears
1) FELCO F-2 068780 Classic Manual Hand Pruner – (F-2)
Felco is well-known for producing high-quality garden tools. So, if you’re seeking to invest in some high-quality pruning shears, check out their F-2 model. The blades are very effective. They’re made of durable steel and have a wire-cutting notch to retain the edges sharp.
The sap groove comes next. With each cut, this remarkable invention clears off sap and debris. That means you’ll never have to deal with blades that are stuck together with a piece of green stem that is tough to remove. You can also change the cutting width by fractions of a millimeter.
Pros
- Construction and performance are Top-notch
- The sap groove feature prevents sticking when pruning strong wood
- All part can be replaced
- It comes with a lifetime guarantee
Cons
- It’s a bit expensive
- There are fake in the market. Make sure you purchase the original
2) Power Drive Ratchet Anvil Hand Pruning Shears
Check out this Power Drive product if you’re seeking pruning shears that are easy on your hands. They have a novel ratchet mechanism that increases the power of the cut. The ratchet clicks into place when the blades close, allowing you to release the handle and begin again. It implies you can do a single cut in numerous simple stages rather than all at once.
The blades are constructed of carbon steel that has been heat-treated to increase their strength. They can be sharpened, but you will not need to do it frequently. While there is no sap groove here, the blades are Teflon coated to keep them from sticking together.
Pros
- It has a great ratchet mechanism for smaller hands
- The tough carbon steel blades can cut through woody stems easily
- The teflon coating helps to avoids sticking the blades together during useage
Cons
- Locking mechanism can be a bit difficult to engage actively
- The ratchet mechanism may take some practice to learn.
3) VIVOSUN 6.5 Inch Gardening Hand Pruner Pruning Shear
If you’re looking for a low-cost choice, VIVOSUN’s pruning shears are well worth considering.
The mechanism is spring-loaded to aid improve the cut’s force. If you have small hands, you may discover that the spring is too long. As a result, the handles are wider apart and need more effort to close. It is feasible to fix this by shortening the spring’s length.
Pros
- The steel blades are sharp and work well for everyday pruning
- The narrow blades are excellent and good for fiddly jobs
- It’s very economical to maintain
- Not expensive
Cons
- Handles are not too strong
- May be uncomfortable to handle the long spring
- More suitable for smaller hands
- Blades may stick with sappy plants
4) Fiskars Gardening Tools: Bypass Pruning Shears
This Fiskars low-cost bypass pruning shears have a lot of functions for a low price. Bypass blades are what they’re called. In other words, when you close the handles, you obtain two curved cutting blades that cross over one other. The end of the result is always a nice and clean cut.
Hardened high carbon steel is used to make the blades. They’re made to keep sharp even after extended use. They’re also beveled, so they’ll slide effortlessly over one another as you cut.
There is a lock that keeps the shears closed while not in use, allowing you to transport them safely. It’s meant to be simply slid into position, whether you’re right or left-handed. The mechanism, on the other hand, maybe a bit stiff for some.
Pros
- It’s all-steel durable construction
- It has a low-friction coating
- The sap groove help the blades to move smoothly
- Affordable price
Cons
- May not work well on thicker stems
- The locking tool might be a bit stiff to use
5) Gonicc 8″ Professional SK-5 Steel Blade – (Sharp Anvil Pruning Shears, GPPS-1001)
Gonicc’s pruning shears have an anvil design. That is, there is a single curved cutting blade on one side that cuts against a hard anvil on the other. For woody or dead plants, the crushing motion works effectively.
This is yet another pair of shears with a carbon steel blade. In this case, it’s SK-5 steel, which is developed to be extremely strong and durable.
This shear has a ratchet mechanism to reduce the amount of effort required for pruning. The ratchet allows you to hold and release the handles without having to return the blade to its initial position. As a result, you can press multiple times for a single cut.
Pros
- It has sharp carbon steel blade
- The anvil design is good and suitable pruning woody plants
- The ratchet mechanism helps to multiply the power of your hand
- It comes with a lifetime warranty
Cons
- Locking mechanism may loose over time
- The cushioned grip is suitable for only one handle.
Our Recommendation
The “FELCO F-2 068780 Classic Manual Hand Pruner – (F-2)” is our top pick. It has all of the required features and can function as required. Just make sure you acquire them from a reputable merchant to ensure you get the best quality.
Whichever choice you select from the list, it will provide you with excellent pruning that will keep your garden in good shape.
Read also: Best Garden Shears For Arthritic Hands
Conclusion
We hope you enjoyed our roundup of the best pruning shears on the market right currently. Whatever your budget may be, you may achieve outstanding results by selecting the equipment that best suits the work.
