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Every gardener knows that manual shears or clippers are the only tool used most days. If you’re buying your first pair or looking for a pair with better functionality and design, it’s important to consider a few things.
- What kind of pruning should be done? Woody limbs or delicate vegetation?
- How big are the plants pruned? The extendable handles of the pruners are essential for cutting small branches or growing larger bushes.
- Which operating style best suits your needs? Anvil, bypass or ratchet?
- How big your hands are and how much strength do you have? Scissors are available in different sizes, handle designs and right- or left-handed cutting functions.
- Here are the best branch branches on the market to help you find the right branches and garden tasks for you.
- Strength-Boosting Shears
- Assistive Clippers
- For Stems, Stalks, and Small Branches
- Designed for the Dirt
- Anvil blade with a sap groove
- Rubber cushion and shock absorber
- Lightweight metal handles
- Limited lifetime warranty
- Less gumming and rust resistance
- Contoured
- The toughest part of the cut
- Rust resistance
1. Best Overall: Fiskar PowerGear 2 Pruner
Fiskar Power Gear 2 branches are sharp enough to cut through the softest stems, but strong enough to handle branches up to 3/4 inch thick. The modified gearbox and cam mechanism make cutting branches easy without excessive hand pressure. Bypass-style hardened steel blades feature a low-friction coating tht allows juice to roll away, reducing sticking and providing rust resistance.
The contoured handles are designed to reduce hand fatigue, and the cutting function makes the pruning shears easy to use for those with small hands and weaker hands. Fiskar gives the product a lifetime warranty.
What our experts say
“I use these pruning shears every day in my garden to remove unruly branches or trim stems while picking a fresh bouquet for the table. The handles are comfortable and conform to the natural shape and movement of my hands, and I love how smooth it is. Table knives.” – Mary Marlowe Leverette, Master Gardener
2. Best for Light Duty: FELCO 2 One-Hand Pruning Shear
Felco mowers are often the best choice for gardeners due to their durability and versatility. All Felco F-2 loppers are more expensive than other brands and are replaceable and come with a limited lifetime warranty.
The pruning shears equipped with manual hardened blades are designed with a sap trap that prevents the accumulation and sticking of sap during use. The slim design is suitable for light pruning and facilitates access to hard-to-reach areas. The handles are made to comfortably fit small and medium-sized hands and have a cushioning rubber coating.
What our testers say
I’ve tried it on many other adults in my extended family and they’ve all loved it too; the general chorus is that it feels good in the hand and the size is nice too . . .” – Sarah Vanbuskirk , product tester
3. Best Ratchet: The Gardener’s Friend Ratchet Pruning Shears
The ergonomic design of these ratchet branches makes them comfortable for all but the largest hands, and the three-stage ratchet mechanism lever helps make cuts with minimal effort.
Made of lightweight aluminum, the closed handle is rubberized to prevent slipping and is suitable for both left- and right-handed users. The carbon steel blade is coated to prevent the juice from sticking. These loppers come with a spare blade, and others can be purchased if they become dull.
4. Best Heavy Duty: ARS HP-VS8Z Signature Heavy Duty Pruner
ARS is a household name in garden tools, and their heavy-duty loppers live up to their name in terms of durability and sharpness. Convenient to use and easy to lock and unlock with one hand, the clippers work well on green and woody stems up to an inch.
Chrome blades protect against rust and sap and are offset to maximize hand strength. Replacement blades are available and the ARS website has detailed pictures of how to replace blades on all their models.
5. Best for Arthritic Hands: Gonicc 8″ Professional Premium Titanium Bypass Pruning Shears
If repetitive movements cause your hands to stiffen after a long day in the garden, Gonicci bypass mowers can help relieve the pain. These loppers feature exceptionally sharp titanium blades that cut branches up to 3/4 inch in diameter. The scissor movement is smooth and leaves a clean cut. The frame is made of lightweight aluminum and the handles are lined with PVC foam material to ensure a comfortable, non-slip grip. Lawn mowers have a lifetime warranty.
What our experts say
“At the end of the day’s garden work, my hands can be tired and sore. Then I take my Gonicc trimmer. The padded grips and smooth opening motion comfort me as I finish the final yard work.” – Mary Marlowe Leverette, master gardener
6. Best for Small Hands: Corona BP 4214D FlexDIAL ComfortGEL Bypass Pruner
If you have one or more gardeners sharing tools, Corona Flex Dial Bypass Pruning Shears are the perfect choice. The adjustable handle fits both small and large hands, just twist the knob between the blades and the handle is gel coated for maximum comfort and a non-slip feel.
The regulator adjusts the size of the handle and also changes the cutting power. Lower settings are best for small, quick cuts of new plants, while higher settings work best for cutting large, woody branches.
What the testers say
“Corona pruning shears are made of carbon steel, which makes it easy to cut a variety of plants with one hand, such as thin, flexible vines, citrus twigs and tree branches.” – Danielle Directo-Meston, product tester
7. Best Electric: Sun Joe Cordless Rechargeable Power Pruner
Sun Joe’s rechargeable battery-powered pruning shears allow for light pruning and do a good job removing branches up to 1/2 inch with a clean, precise cut. Lightweight and cordless to avoid tangles and tears. Cutting takes place by pressing the trigger in the ergonomic handle. The safety switch helps prevent accidental cuts.
An added bonus are the two LED lights that help locate the detachable stem. When the battery is fully charged, up to 750 cuts can be made. While not as powerful as manual branches, this cordless model is great for those with limited hand strength.
8. Best Long Handled: Corona Compound Action Bypass Lopper
Long-handled loppers are often called loppers and are used for cutting woody branches from large shrubs and trees. These Corona brush cutters use a bypass feature that can cut branches up to 1.5 inches thick.
Sturdy yet light enough to move around with ease, the fiberglass handles are 24 inches long with 12-inch non-slip foam grips. With a limited lifetime warranty, carbon steel blades can be sharpened or replaced for years of sharp cutting.
What our experts say
They allow me to stand firmly on the ground and still do many qualifying tasks without a ladder. The length of the handles gives me extra strength and power when making big cuts.” – Mary Marlowe Leverette, Master Gardener
9. Best Left Handed: Felco 10 Bypass Pruner
Whether you are a keen left-handed or a gardener forced to work in the garden, convenient and easy-to-use tools make the job easier and using tools intended for right-handed people can cause hand injuries and messy work.
The Felco 10 bypass cutter accurately cuts up to 1 inch in diameter. With the adjustment key, pruning requires 30% less effort than other pruning shears. The blades can be sharpened and replaced over the years.
Last judgment
The best universal clippers are the Fiskar PowerGear 2 clippers (see Amazon). The clippers are sturdy, sharp, and have a modified gear and cam mechanism that allows the user to easily cut branches up to 3/4 of an inch. If you’re left-handed and an avid gardener, use the Felco 10 Bypass pruner (see on Amazon) a little more for a super beautiful branch.
What you should pay attention to with pruning shears
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Finding the right pruning shears for the job is easy when you understand how to use the three types of pruning shears: anvil, bypass, and ratchet.
Down pruners use only a sharp blade that compresses the branches when it hits a groove in the solid substrate. They are best on dry branches, but can crush tender green stems.
Bypass cutters make cuts with two sharp blades. They are perfect for green branches and stems because they make a clean cut that helps prevent disease from entering the plant.
Ratchet loppers are similar to an anvil but have a mechanism that allows the user to apply less pressure to the handles when cutting larger branches. When the user squeezes the handles about halfway through, the ratchet mechanism engages and releases the handles to open further, allowing the user to squeeze again to complete the cut. Ratchet pruners are best for removing larger dead branches from woody shrubs.
Dimension
The type of work you do will certainly affect the size of the pruning shears you need, the size of your hands, and how much weight you can handle comfortably. Some are made specifically for small hands and are made from different materials, some heavier than others.
Easy to use
Pruning can be hard work, but the right pruning shears can make the job easier. From ergonomic handles to special grips made for maximum comfort, there are several factors that affect ease of use. Some are made specifically for people who have weakened hands due to arthritis, age, and other factors.
Ergonomic design
Foam, gel or easy-grip handles help prevent hand fatigue.
Security features
The best pruning shears have a locking mechanism that keeps the blades closed when not in use. Although this feature is necessary for security, it can be frustrating if it turns on while using branch words. Choose loppers with a lock close to the blade rather than the handle to prevent accidental grafting.
Knife material:
The best blades are rust and corrosion resistant and have a Teflon coating to help the juice slide off to prevent the blades from sticking. Stainless steel blades do not rust, but are difficult to sharpen and can crack or bend on hard branches. Carbon steel blades are strong and durable and can be sharp, but they are prone to rusting if not coated. Look for titanium-coated carbon steels (they’re gold in color) that offer strength and rust resistance.
Spring mechanism:
The saddle’s spring mechanism moves the blades away after each cut. Look for a firmly attached, strong spring that will last for years.
FAQ
What is the difference between anvils and bypass cutters?
Bypass trimmers have two sharp blades that are best suited for cutting delicate plant stems and small green branches. The lower branches only have a sharp blade that cuts the solid substrate by pressing. They are designed to crush and crush dry and woody branches.
How often pruning shears should be sharpened?
Professional gardeners sharpen pruning shears every six to eight weeks. For the gardener, the blades need to stay sharp once or twice a year. Broken or bent blades must be replaced immediately. When it’s time to sharpen the blades, remove the loppers and clean each part thoroughly. Sharpen the blades, reassemble the parts, and apply lubricating oil to every moving part, including the blades, to prevent rusting.
How can I extend the life of my pruning shears?
As with any gardening tool, cleaning and maintenance will increase the usefulness of the pruning shears. At the end of each gardening session, the pruning shears should be wiped with a damp cloth to remove dirt and sap accumulated on the blades and handles. Pruning shears should be stored in a covered and dry environment.
Why trust the spruce?
Mary Marlowe Leverette studied and wrote this summary. He is a master gardener and has extensive personal and professional experience testing, reviewing and writing about home and garden products. You can find more of his work at The Spruce.
