8 Best Pruning Tools for Your Garden and Yard
Updated: Sep. 29, 2022Pruning is important for keeping gardens and landscapes looking their best. But to do it right, you need good pruning tools. Here are some favorites.
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What Makes a Good Pruning Tool?
• Durable materials that hold up in outdoor use and are not compromised by dirt or moisture.
• Quality engineering that withstands hard use and occasional mishaps like accidentally dropping the tool.
• Good ergonomics so it feels comfortable in your hand, even after repeated use.
• Proper care. Keep tools sharp, clean and rust-free (unlike the ones above) for efficiency and long life.
Bypass Pruners
Fiskars steel bypass pruners come at a bargain price, less than $13, but are backed by a lifetime warranty. The hardened, precision-ground steel blade has a special coating to reduce friction for easier cuts and resist rust for longevity.
These bypass pruners, which are best for cutting green, living stems, make a clean, sharp cut for quick healing and tackle stems up to 5/8-in. in diameter. Non-slip handles make these pruners easy to use in wet weather.
Anvil Pruners
Fiskars power-lever anvil pruners are a good modestly-priced option for cutting dry, dead stems up to 5/8-in. in diameter. These pruners, which also come with a lifetime warranty, feature an all-steel body for durability and power-lever technology to maximize leverage and make cutting easier. Non-slip grips make use more comfortable even in wet conditions.
Ratchet Pruners
Corona hand ratchet pruners can tackle stems up to 3/4-in. in diameter, thanks to a ratchet action that allows you to make a larger cut in several small passes. It features a non-stick coated blade for smooth cutting and a molded grip to fit comfortably in the hand. These ratchet pruners come with a limited lifetime warranty. It’s a great tool for pruning bushes.
Needle-Nose Pruners
Dramm hydroponic clippers feature three-inch-long titanium-coated blades, perfect for reaching deeper into a plant’s canopy and doing precision pruning on tender new growth, harvesting herbs or deadheading flowers. Lightweight yet durable, the clippers come with a locking mechanism for safety and a sleeve to protect the blades. Indoors, these can be used in place of garden scissors.
Loppers
Corona compound-action bypass loppers are 32 inches long, offering ample leverage for removing woody stems up to 1-1/2-in. thick. These loppers feature 24-inch fiberglass handles and extra-long, non-slip foam grips for comfort. The high-carbon steel bypass blades have a non-stick coating as well.
Heavy-Duty Loppers
Centurion pro series monster loppers can cut up to two-inch-diameter stems with their guillotine-stye cutting jaw — stems that would normally require a saw to prune. The powerful double-gear drive makes cutting back plants 50 percent easier, and the non-stick coating on the rust-resistant blades keep them from gumming up.
You can use these large loppers for extended periods, thanks to the lightweight aluminum alloy handles and the cushioned non-slip grips.
Hedge Shears
Fiskars 23-inch PowerGear hedge shears come with a lifetime warranty as well as a commendation from the Arthritis Foundation for ease of use.
Great for trimming hedges and tender shoots on other plants, the shears feature a PowerGear mechanism that enhances the cutting force to make cutting easier. The shears are lightweight to save fatigue after extended use and come with sharp blades with a low-friction, rust-resistant coating.
Pole Pruner
Fiskars extendable tree pruner reaches seven to 12 feet, making it ideal for pruning high branches without a ladder. The rope-free design is easy to use because it offers two-handed control.
This pole pruner, which comes with a lifetime warranty, has chain-driven gearing for maximum cutting power and a hardened steel blade that cuts up to one inch diameter branches.
