Garden Pruners & Shears ~ for home gardening

Every gardener needs a good quality set garden pruners and shears for the many pruning, clipping and cutting chores. Using the right pruning tool for your plants and for the type of pruning required is extremely important in doing a good job.

Here's a guide for choosing the right garden pruners and garden shears for a variety of light to medium pruning chores around the garden:

Hand Pruners: For branches up to 1/2 inch diameter. Ratchet versions are ideal for gardeners with weaker hands.

Anvil Pruners have one sharp blade (sharpened on both edges) that cuts against a flat anvil. They rarely need adjusting and the blade is easily replaced. If the blade is dull, it will crush the stem instead of cutting it. Anvil garden pruners tend to leave a small stub but are unsurpassed for cutting dead wood.

Bypass Pruners have a blade sharpened on the outside edge that slides past a hook. They make clean cuts, close to the stem, but can't be used on branches larger than 1/2 inch in diameter. This is the most popular type of garden pruner.
Lopping Shears: For branches up to 1 1/2-inch diameter. Essential garden tool for pruning thorny shrubs such as quince, roses and pyracantha.
Pruning Saw: Available in folding and fixed-handled versions, these saws, when sharp, are good for branches up to 3-inch diameter. For thicker
branches, you can use a bow saw or a special heavy-duty pruning saw.
Pole Pruners: Telescoping saw has a pruning saw and a rope or handle-operated guillotine for smaller branches. Used to reach high branches, though control of the cut is compromised, along with access to desired branches. Beware of power lines. Pole pruners have either an anvil pruner or bypass pruner attached to a long wooden or fiberglass shaft. They are safer than standing on a ladder to cut high in a tree. Ideal for pruning fruit trees in your yard—best for experienced gardeners.