Choosing the Right Pruner for the Job

Pruning 101

What is pruning?

In nature, elements like wind and snow aid in natural abscission of plants; a kind of organic pruning. In yards and gardens, plants must be intentionally trimmed to help prepare for new growth, ensure desired size or shape, and even prevent harmful diseases.

When do you prune?

The best time to prune is often debated and is dependent on species, region, and circumstance. While some light pruning can be done in the summer, the majority of pruning is best in late winter when the plants are dormant.

It is tempting to take care of pruning tasks whenever you have a sharp pruning tool in your hand. If this describes your pruning practices, make clean cuts with quality tools so that you do not injure your plants. All Fiskars pruning shears feature fully hardened, precision-ground steel blades that cut all the way to the tip and stay sharp—even through heavy use. A low-friction blade coating reduces gumming and improves rust resistance, while easy-open locks protect the blade during transport and storage.

Why do you prune?

Whether you are cutting back perennial plants or pruning fruit trees, shrubs, or hedges, it is important to follow a few basic guidelines. Pruning is great for keeping tall plants within bounds, encouraging branching and more blooms as well as tightening up plants that get lanky during the growing season.

Pruning Tools

Three tools that every gardener should own are hand pruners, hedge shears and a pair of loppers.

Pruners

Fiskars pruners are great for pruning shoots on fruit trees, keeping perennial flowers neatly trimmed and for pruning long, wayward branches out of shrubs. As you work, the pruners' comfortable rotating handle follows the natural motion of your hand to help reduce fatigue. This pruner is designed to cut branches and stems up to ¾ inch in diameter.

Pruners can be also used to help open up dense shrubs. Removing a few small branches with your pruner allows light and air into the center of the plants. Pruners are also great for deadheading—the intentional removal of past-bloom flowers—which will make blooming plants look tidy.

Hedge shears

Even if you don't have a hedge, these shears are a great tool to have in your collection. Fiskars hedge shears have long, 10-inch blades that make sharp, clean cuts all the way to the tip of the blade. The blades are coated to reduce friction without compromising the sharp edge.

In spring, use hedge shears to quickly cut last year's stems from asters, chrysanthemums and other perennials. You can also trim ornamental grasses to 4 to 6 inches high just before new growth begins.

Of course, if you have a hedge, the hedge shears are the tool you will want to use to shape them. Fiskars hedge shears are designed to give you better leverage than other gardening shears in order to cut more easily. You can even prune shrub roses with hedge shears. The shrub roses will recover and come back into even denser bloom in no time.

Loppers

Don't force your hand pruners to cut branches that are too big for them. A sharp pair of loppers easily trims larger branches in one smooth cut as well as extending your reach. Loppers are useful for just about any pruning job that requires cutting through a thicker branch.

Fiskars loppers are ideal for pruning fruit trees and other small trees and shrubs. The 18-inch loppers are light but powerful and will cut through branches up to 1½ inch in diameter. In just a few minutes, you can limb up small trees, remove old stems and take out tall stems that look out of proportion.

Loppers also help extend your reach. Fiskars loppers are available in three sizes: 18 inch, 25 inch and 32 inch long. The largest loppers are able to cut branches up to 2 inches in diameter.

No matter which tool you use, take your time when pruning. Remember to step back after a few cuts to study the shape and structure of your plants. With sharp tools in your hand, you're in charge of—and can take pride in—your garden's good looks.