Basic Pruning Tools

You'll be able to prune better and faster—and save wear and tear on your body—with the right pruning tool. Equip yourself with the following five tools and you'll be able to tackle all but the largest projects with ease.

Hand Pruners

These are essential for many garden tasks, including pruning. They go by many names, including shears, snippers, clippers, and even the very British secateurs. By whatever name, this tool works like a pair of scissors but is far tougher. Depending on the size of the shears, they can usually handle stems as thick as 3/4 inch (check the package). However, they're generally best for slender branches, those no thicker than a pencil.

Bypass types are the most popular and cut with a curved blade that bypasses the other blade, much like scissors. Bypass pruners are ideal for using on live wood where a smooth cut is essential to help the wound heal well.

Anvil-type pruners have a single, straight-edged cutting blade that closes against an anvil. It's effective in cutting dry, hard, or old growth.

When selecting hand pruners, think ergonomics! Carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis and even arthritis are the scourge of gardeners, young and old. It’s vitally important to choose tools that help reduce the stress and strain often associated with pruning. Look for hand pruners with a mechanical advantage, like Fiskars® PowerGear® Hand Pruner, which operates with a gear mechanism designed to increase cutting power.

Loppers

Loppers have longer handles and bigger blades than hand pruners, making it easier to cut larger branches—up to 2 inches thick, depending on the size of the tool (check the package for specifics). The long handles also extend your reach nicely by a foot or two.

Like pruners, loppers are available in both bypass and anvil types. Like pruners, the best loppers are designed with mechanical advantages, such as gears, to increase leverage and maximize cutting power, a bonus for older gardeners or those with not much upper body strength.

Pruning Saw

Branches thicker than two inches need more heavy-duty cutting tools. A pruning saw is ideal for removing larger branches. Unlike saws used for woodworking, most pruning saws are uniquely designed to slip into tight spots and often are curved for more ergonomic cutting of the rounded branches. The handles are also more comfortable on the hand and less wearing to the arm.

Look for saws that cut both with the pull and the push stroke for fastest cutting.

Hedge Trimmers

Available both as hand and power tools, hedge trimmers are ideal for shaping hedges or individual shrubs. Never use on branches thicker than a chopstick, though—that's a job for hand pruners or even loppers. Use a hedge trimmer only to shape the surface of the plant.

In hand versions, look for quality construction and smooth movement. Hand hedge trimmers are great for smaller hedges and individual shrubs or trees because of their precision and control. For larger projects, power hedge trimmers are available with electric or gas motors. Electric is lighter and quieter but usually has a cumbersome cord. Gas is heavier and noisier and requires slightly more maintenance. Both types have models with articulated blades to get the tops of higher hedges.

Pole Pruner/Saw

To get those higher-up branches that are no more than a few inches thick, rely on a pole pruner or saw. The cutting head or saw is mounted on a pole, which can extend as much as 14 or so feet.

The Fiskars Pruning Stik® is especially useful for such tasks. It features a cutting head that rotates on a 240-degree arc, so the user can set the proper cutting angle for whatever pruning task is at hand. The cut is made by an internal belt mechanism and chain combination for the cleanest, easiest cut possible, without cumbersome ropes to get tangled.

Whatever pole-type device you use, wear eye protection when pruning anything above your head to protect from falling sawdust and other debris.