Among the wide variety of garden tools, the one that is recognizable among a thousand and is known among all remains the pruning shears. Even people least interested in plant care and the garden know how to name it. The very first secateurs that appeared at the beginning of the 19th century were used to prune the vines. In the garden nowadays, everyone has their favorite tool, but no one can dispute the essential nature of a good secateur.
For limp stems, you can get away with it with good scissors, but sooner or later you’ll have to come to the pruning shears. Because to cut harder rods, you will be happy to have a good tool. Proper pruning of branches of trees, shrubs, flowers and garden plants is not possible without a good pruner. What are the different types of secateurs and what is the best ergonomics. What price range for a pruner?
What are the different types of secateurs?
There are basically three types of pruners: straight-cut, anvil, and battery-powered. Pruners with straight cuts or growing blades are probably the most popular. You make a nice clean cut with two curved blades that contour like scissors. A blade is sharpened on the outer edge and slides through a thicker, unsharpened blade.
In contrast, anvil pruners have a single straight knife that closes on a flat edge or anvil. Anvil pruners have a cutting action similar to that of a knife against a cutting board and work well for removing hard dead wood. They tend to be a bit bulkier than straight-cut pruners, making it harder to get into some branches.
Battery pruners are basically anvil pruners with a mechanism that performs the cutting action in stages. Battery-powered pruners provide more leverage for smaller or weaker hands. If you do a lot of pruning, battery scissors can save you a bit of effort and fatigue.
What is the best ? Each style has its followers. If possible, try or at least get hands-on with pruners before you buy them. Feel the feel in your hand, the weight and the grip.
What is the price of a pruner?
Prices vary considerably from less than 10 euros to well over 75 euros. Buying the best you can afford will save you effort and money in the long run. First, go for a quality brand. Then surf the net by typing keywords such as “professional” in search engines. Choose a model with a hardened steel blade that you can sharpen. Preferably also choose a pruner with interchangeable parts. It is a mechanical device, after all, and parts will wear out. Most high quality pruners come in different sizes. You can for example hear the highest good everywhere from a certain product. But even if it is acclaimed by all, it will not necessarily suit you if you have rather small hands, for example.
What ergonomics for your shears?
Trimming is already tiring in itself, so if you have arthritis or carpal tunnel problems, treat yourself to the most ergonomic models. You can opt for padded handles to relieve pressure or swivel handles to reduce wear and tear on your wrist or even models with a horizontal tilt to keep your hand in a neutral position. If you are a left-handed gardener, you are not forgotten. Usually there are models just for you, although they are quite difficult to find in garden centers.
What you need to consider before buying a pruner: first of all, the type of work for which it will be used. Then the spring force so that you can use it easily. To do this, before buying, you should squeeze the handles while checking that they fit the size of your palms and fingers and that the tool itself is not too heavy for you (or for those who will use it). It is advisable to find a pruner that can be used with both the right and left hands. Pruner blades don’t last forever. Make sure that the model you choose offers the possibility of exchanging them. Otherwise, over time, you will either have to look for ways to sharpen the blades or part with the tool.
Finally, make sure you have a good firm grip on the tool so that it does not slip and cause discomfort and risk of injury. Do not limit yourself to the product user manual or rely on a high price – this is not a reliable guarantee of high quality. Do not neglect the opinion of professionals – they will help you compare the proposed price with the technical condition of the purchased item and your financial possibilities. The key is to choose a pruner that makes clean, light cuts and that you enjoy using. Invest the time and money to find the right tool, it’s worth it.