Whenever you are working in your garden, or you are just beginning to get started. You quickly find that certain tools make your life easier and are better for the health of your plants.
Garden shears may appear to be like scissors in the way they function, yet there is many though that does into their function and their design
For one, garden shears need to be sharp and retain their cutting edge for years. Besides this, after you use them for an hour, a bad pair can make your hand ache.
An ergonomic shape can help with cutting and comfort as you make your cuts. Besides this, you find many pairs don’t cater to gardeners that have small hands.
You can find the best shears for gardening in our reviews, no matter how large or small your garden or your hands.
Contents
- Why You Need Good Pruning Shears
- Top Pruning Shears Reviews
- 1. Felco F-2 068780 Classic Manual Hand Pruner, F2
- 2. Corona BP 3180D Forged Classic Bypass Pruner with 1 Inch Cutting Capacity, 1”
- 3. Gonicc 8” Professional Premium Titanium Bypass Pruning Shears (GPPS-1003), Hand Pruners, Garden Clippers.
- 4. Fiskars 91095935J Steel Pruning Shears Bypass Pruner, 1
- 5. ARS HP-VS8Z Signature Heavy Duty Pruner
- Pruning Shears Buying Guide
- Final Verdict
Why You Need Good Pruning Shears
What many gardeners fail to understand is the effect of pruning or trimming on their plants. If cuts are not made with sharp blades, you will crush stems instead of cutting them cleanly.
The effect here is that without clean cuts, plants can’t heal properly, and if it doesn’t lead to the death of your plant, it can lead to abnormal growth.
If the plants have dead wood, this can be hard to cut, and anything apart from the proper tools for the job will make the task painful and time-consuming.
One of the main reasons being fatigue. It doesn’t take too long for your hands to begin cramping from forcing cutting blades through stems or small branches.
Using ergonomically designed shears means you have a better chance of clearing all your garden care tasks in a shorter amount of time.
Top Pruning Shears Reviews
1. Felco F-2 068780 Classic Manual Hand Pruner, F2
At first glance, the Felco F-2 Classic Manual Hand Pruner doesn’t appear to be anything special.
They deliver an effective anvil blade, a built-in sap groove, and come with adjustable settings. With these, you can have control over any stubborn branch you come across. Plants and shrubbery pruning are easy once you have these pruners in your hands.
The blades enable you to cut thick branches to 1-inch in diameter, and this alone makes the Felco stand out against most other gardening shears.
They are lightweight aluminum at 8.8 ounces. They are comfortable to use, thanks to the shock absorption system, which reduces fatigue and hand and wrist strain and can be the best gardener’ s friend.
Pros
- Perfect hardened high carbon steel pruners
- Width adjustment system
- Shock absorbing handles
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons
- Spring may stick on occasion when closed
- Short anvil for some applications
With a guide price of around $55, you are getting a premium product that comes with a built-in wire-cutting notch. They don’t take any toll on your hands, and the adjustment makes it easier for people with smaller hands to use the best garden shears you may come across.
2. Corona BP 3180D Forged Classic Bypass Pruner with 1 Inch Cutting Capacity, 1”
Although the Corona bypass pruners say it can cut one inch, it is better at 3/4 inch when using the bypass pruner one-handed. Any more and even a large person may struggle to hold the handles.
The pruner cuts well enough with the alloy blades, and the sap groove stops the blades made from hardened steel blade from sticking. You can resharpen the blades, which may be a good thing as they don’t have the sharpest of cuts.
Pros
- Very affordable
- Easy to get replacement parts
- Cuts ¾ inch branches
Cons
- Spring opens too wide for small places
- Not the sharpest cutting
With a rough price of around $25, there is a lot to like. You have non slip rubberized grips, and it comes from a large manufacturer. You get a wire-cutting notch, and they are ideal to get the job done.
3. Gonicc 8” Professional Premium Titanium Bypass Pruning Shears (GPPS-1003), Hand Pruners, Garden Clippers.
These Gonicc 8” Professional Sharp Bypass Pruning Shears are a good choice for anyone with smaller hands or who need to carry out some fine pruning. With the titanium hardened steel blades, they deliver sharp edges for effortless operation.
The carbon steel blades prevent sticking from sap, and you can cut up to 3/4-inch. The locking mechanism easy to use though it can take some getting used to. The body of the shears is drop forged and ergonomically designed, with a pair of lightweight handles.
Pros
- Comfortable foam handles
- Clean cut carbon Japanese SK-5 steel blades
- Non-stick blades
Cons
- Suited for small tasks and hands
- Locking mechanism suited for right-handed people
If you need to get into smaller spaces, these shears make a great choice with a guide price of just under $30. They do the job, yet they are probably the best hand pruner for very small jobs rather than tough cutting jobs in the garden.
4. Fiskars 91095935J Steel Pruning Shears Bypass Pruner, 1
The Fiskars 10.75” Bypass Pruner is robust, comfortable, and efficient. It provides reliable pruning without the cost of many more expensive options. The pruner comes with an easy-to-open latch that protects the blade during storage.
The hardened steel is precision ground, and the blade edge is durable. The blades are treated with low-friction coatings, so it feels like you are sliding, not cutting.
Pros
- High-quality, carbon steel construction
- Non-slip ergonomic grips
- Sap groove
- Easy to operate protective lock
Cons
- Heavier than others
- Locking mechanism locks blades in a vertical position
With a guide price of less than $15, these bypass pruners pack in a lot for a small price. They can cut 5/8 inch in diameter and make this easier with the long handles. There is a lifetime warranty, although they may be suited to the larger person.
Besides this, the main gripes is the locking mechanism popping on when you don’t expect it.
5. ARS HP-VS8Z Signature Heavy Duty Pruner
The ARS HP-VS8Z Signature Heavy Duty Pruner model has a unique way of opening the lock, and that is to squeeze the handles. It is simple, yet to pop the lever takes your free hand.
However, the best pruning shears from Ars come with hardened steel blades, which you can change if you need to, and are chrome-plated stainless steel to avoid corrosion.
You can cut up to one-inch maximum, and doing so shouldn’t put any strain on your hands thanks to the off-set ergonomic handles. One handle rotates to help reduce strain and does take some getting used to.
Pros
- Robust changeable blades
- Avoids corrosion
- Cuts large branches
- Carbon steel blade
Cons
- Expensive
- Locking mechanism hard to operate with small hands
Coming in with a guide price of around $100, these Ars pruners are priced higher than most best shears options. However, if you are a serious gardener who uses pruners nearly every day, then these could be among the best heavy-duty bypass pruning shears you can find
Pruning Shears Buying Guide
When you buy pruning shears, you will find three types of hand shears that can cut limbs up to three-quarters to an inch on larger sizes of branches.
Bypass Pruners: Favored by many gardeners. The pruners bypass model offer close, neat cuts.
They comprise one curved blade with a sharp outside edge, and the second blade is thicker and not sharp.
Anvil Pruners: These anvil pruners have one sharp blade and one flat. When pruning, branches presses against the flat anvil blade; this causes stems to squash on the anvil and can harm your plants.
Ratchet Pruners: For limited strength or if you have small hands, you will find ratchet pruners ideal. They use a ratcheting mechanism that increases cutting power seven-fold for cutting branches in some cases. Ratchet pruners use continuous cutting motions, which proceed to the next ratchet setting and cuts with minimal effort.
Weight: Some shears are heavier than others. However, many are more durable when larger. You need a fine balance of weight and something that fits your hand.
Operation: Shears can vary the way they operate in their cutting action. Blades need to meet as close as they can to make clean cuts. If you want an anvil pruner, be sure the sharpened blade meets the flat blade.
Safety: Check the locking mechanism keeps your shears closed when not in use.
Quality: Make sure the tool isn’t riveted together as this means you can’t change any parts. Also, the standard of high-quality stainless-steel dictates how long before it needs sharpening.
Final Verdict
In testing, most of the pruners in the reviews did the job admirably, although the Felco F-2 068780 Classic Manual Hand Pruner, F2 model quickly shone with its cutting power and ease of use.
The Felco was light in the hands thanks to the aluminum handle, and the cutting action made it a breeze to cut big branches.
In work, the Felco blades were non-stick and, and it is easy to see why they are the best pruners for nearly every gardener who enjoys their work and want it made easier.
The quality of the pair shone, and they may earn the top spot for the ultimate pair of pruning shears you can have for work.
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With over 20 years of hands-on gardening and landscape design experience, Tim Graham, the founder of YardandGardenGuru.com, is dedicated to sharing expert advice and fostering a vibrant community for garden enthusiasts. His award-winning designs and sustainable practices reflect a deep-rooted passion and expertise in horticulture. Connect and cultivate your green thumb with Tim!