Choosing the best garden pruners is not always an easy task. There are many different models, materials, and features that can make narrowing down to one choice quite difficult. Thankfully there are a few things you should keep in mind when looking for your next pair of pruning shears.
Choosing The Best Garden Pruners
1. What is a garden pruner and what are its uses?
Before you start looking for your next pair of pruning shears, there are a few facts you need to know about pruners. Garden pruners are hand tools designed to help cut stems and branches. They offer the benefit of being portable, lightweight, and great for cutting back plants that would otherwise be difficult or time-consuming with other tools.
2. How to choose the best garden pruners for your needs?
Choosing the best garden pruners can be a little difficult, but if you follow a few guidelines, the process will go a lot smoother. Check out this article for tips on choosing your next pair of pruning shears.
Material
While there are many different types of materials used to make both handles and blades of pruning shears, there are two standards that stand out. The first is carbon steel construction with a nonstick coating. This type of material tends to be less expensive and offers high durability, but it may rust if not properly taken care of. Stainless steel is the other standard for garden pruner blades. It has high corrosion resistance, which means you don’t have to worry about rust or weathering. However, these types of shears tend to be more expensive than those made from carbon steel.
Handle Style
Pruners can either have an extendable handle or a folding blade. Extendable handles are great for reaching high branches because you don’t need to pull them close prior to cutting. Folding blades are great for portability because they reduce the overall length of the pruners when in storage.
Features
When choosing the best garden pruners, be sure to consider each feature to determine if it is truly something you need or want. One common feature is the bypass blade style. This refers to how easily shears can cut through plant stems. Most are equipped with either an anvil, notch, or ratchet style blade to determine how easily they can cut.
Cost
Price will vary depending on the features you want with your pair of pruning shears. If you are looking for a low budget pair that offers standard durability and cutting capability, then expect to pay around $10. If you are looking for high quality stainless steel construction with performance enhancing features, then expect to pay over $100.
3. Tips on how to use them correctly!
Now that you have your new pair of pruning shears, it’s time to start using them! Make sure to use these tips if you want to make the most out of your investment.
Do not over-tighten the blades when cutting a branch or stem. If you do this, then there is a chance that the blade may break.
Make sure to keep your blades clean and rust-free. If you notice something is impairing the cutting power of your pruners, then either use a soft cloth to wipe the surface or spray it with lubricant before using again.
4. Common mistakes people make when using them.
There are a few mistakes that people commonly make when using pruning shears, so be sure to avoid the following:
Failure to clean your blades after cutting – if you don’t keep blades clean and rust free, then they will have a harder time cutting through stems. If you see them start to get dirty or rusty, then either spray them with lubricant or wipe them down with a soft cloth.
Applying too much pressure while cutting – more pressure is not always better! If you apply too much, then there is a chance that your blades may become misaligned and the handle could break off.
Using them for purposes other than cutting plants – pruning shears are designed for cutting plants and stems, so don’t use them to cut other things such as wire or aluminum. Doing this may cause the blades to bend and impact their performance.
5. The benefits of owning one or more pairs of these handy tools
A pair of garden pruners is one of the most versatile tools you can have. They are perfect for everything from trimming back plants to cutting through thick brush. You can even use them to cut wire or aluminum if needed! Here are some other benefits that come with owning a pair:
Easy to store – many pruners have folding blades that can take up much less space than a full-size pair. This makes them perfect for storing away in a garage or shed when not needed.
They are easy to grip – if your hands tire easily, then you will love using these pruners because they come with a rubber coating on the handles. This makes them easy to grip and comfortable to use for long periods of time.
They are versatile – there are hundreds of different types of pruning shears on the market today, so you can find one that suits your needs. There is also a large selection available at any home improvement store or online retailer.
Factors To Consider When Choosing The Best Pruning Shears
Gardening is becoming more and more popular every day. Even though gardening may be enjoyable, it also entails a lot of responsibility, particularly when it comes to caring for the health and general wellbeing of your plants. Pruning your greens is one approach to ensure that they stay alive and healthy.
Pruning is not just for expert landscapers and gardeners. Pruning is recommended for all gardeners, even novices, to preserve the health of their plants. It is not an easy process, but if you discover the correct instruments to make it less laborious, you may make it easier and more effortless.
Here are some of the most popular types of pruning tools to assist you select the pruning shears that will best suit your requirements and needs:
On live wood, bypass pruning shears work best. They operate similarly to scissors in that the blades cut through one another. These pruners are renowned for making precise cuts and for being user-friendly and practical for gardeners.
For branches that are damaged or dead, anvil pruning shears are frequently utilized. An anvil is on one side, and the blades are on the other. It is not suggested to use these pruners on live wood since they have a propensity to crush hard, similar to how a knife slices on a cutting board.
QUALITY OF BLADES AND OVERALL BUILD
The blades of a pruner are among its most crucial parts. For their pruners, many manufacturers utilize stainless, forged, or high carbon steel blades. Each one has a different level of toughness, sharpness, and resistance.
No matter how high-quality the blade is, it will probably stop working after a while. A straightforward sharpening can restore it to its optimal functionality when using high-quality blades. On the other hand, low-quality blades are susceptible to deformation over time. When this occurs, you won’t be able to make precise, clean cuts and you could even hurt your plants.
Blades with a titanium coating strike a balance between sharpness, toughness, and corrosion resistance. The titanium coating makes the blade more durable, minimizes cutting friction, and guards against corrosion. The pruning shears will last longer as a result.
The premium blades used in Haus & Garten pruners are coated with a unique titanium coating technology that not only shields them against rust but also enables the gardener to utilize the pruners to their full potential. This technique boosts the cutting edge’s resistance, extending the blades’ useful life and making the purchase worthwhile.
CUTTING CAPACITY
What sort of plants you intend to prune will determine the best instrument to use.
A pruner with a cutting capacity of at least 1 inch is ideal for the majority of activities while pruning branches. This tool may be used to prune smaller branches, fruit tree branches, perennial flower stems, long branches from shrubs, and other branches.
ERGONOMIC DESIGN
Pruning may be quite taxing, particularly if you do it for extended periods of time. Whether you do this task frequently or for longer periods of time, the objective is to have a pair of scissors that need less effort from you. This makes pruning more pleasant for you. When pruning, using models that are lightweight, ergonomically constructed, and grip-friendly can increase your hands’ comfort and support. Anti-slip handles with shock-absorbing padding can aid in ensuring a secure grasp and avoiding wrist injuries and strain.
Finding the best pruning shears is a difficult endeavor, made more difficult by the market’s abundance of goods with similar features and quality.
Conclusion:
Pruning shears are one of the most versatile and useful tools in your garden. If you want to make the most out of your investment, then be sure to choose a pair that can do what you need it to do. When shopping for them, consider the overall construction, the length when folded or stored away, how easily they cut, and what kind of handles they have. Once you do this, then choosing the best pair will be simple.