Garden Tool Guide : Choosing the Right Garden Shears

If you have visited your local gardening center recently, you will have found an extensive variety of one of the most important garden tools - garden shears. What do all these different types of shears do? Which pair of shears should you purchase? Is there one pair of garden shears for every garden task?

As with most garden tools, you will learn that there are specific types of shears for specific tasks and activities in the garden. The following is a guide to help you understand the differences in garden shears and then make right purchase. You will also learn that to perform all of the basic gardening activities through the year, you will need to own more than one type of garden shears. If you are just starting out in gardening, make your first purchase a pair of Felco No 2. Pruners.

	FLOWER SHEARS - for cutting flowers Flower shears have an anvil blade that is pointed at both ends to make it easier to get between tight stems.
	BYPASS PRUNERS - most pruning tasks Bypass pruners work like scissors, making the cut as a curved blade passes a flat base.
	ANVIL PRUNERS - general cutting Anvil pruners pinch the stem or wood between the blade and a base, making a cut like a knife. These pruners do not make as clean a cut as bypass pruners.
	HEDGE SHEARS - trimming and shaping As the name suggest, hedge shears are designed to shape and trim hedges. Hedge shears with serrated blades will cut through thicker plant material than straight blades. Look for lightweight hedge shears with rubber 'shock absorbers' between the blades.
	GRASS SHEARS - trimming grass Grass shears, or clippers have long blades and handles for trimming lawn edges, around tree trunks and objects within lawn area. They are intended for small trimming chores rather than trimming of large areas.
	LOPPING SHEARS - cutting heavier materials Loppers, or lopping shears have bypass cutting blades to make pruning cuts to heavier, woodier stems or branches. There are a variety of lengths of lopping shears to suit jobs from pruning rose bushes to fruit trees.

All garden shears need to be kept well-sharpened and lubricated. Always choose the best quality shears your budget can afford, as they will outperform economical models in the quality of results and longevity.