They don’t need them; they just work. The Felco F-2 is our favorite set of pruners. While these pruning sheers look great with their chrome look finish, our only complaint is that the handles need a non-slip covering. Credit: Reviewed / Betsey Goldwasser, Haus & Garten Enduro Pro Titanium Bypass Pruning Shears, Bugui Bypass Garden Pruning Shears - 2 Pack, Got allergies? Pruning shears "essentiel" models; Basic models; Ergonomic models; Picking and Trimming Snips; Flower pruning shears; Spraying pruning shears; Hoof clippers; Special Edition; Loppers "Forged aluminium" models "Aluminium" models "Carbon" models "Cam-assisted" models; Cable cutters. Felco is one of the most well known brands for a reason and they certainly produce some high quality cutters. We do of course know that everyone’s hands are different, not everyone has strong hands and hand size can vary dramatically. And with 22 different replacement parts available, you can keep these pruners in good repair pretty much forever. Both sides of the blade on anvil pruners are sharp. We researched 78 different models of pruning shears and tested 10 that rated highly for quality, price, or both. Once again, Felco is a top of the line manufacturer that is hard to beat when it comes to pruning shears. Drawbacks: Unlike our other top picks, the Fiskars didn’t cut cleanly through scallions after minimal use, leaving ragged stringy leaves instead of a straight cut. As with most other pruners in this sample, the Haus & Garten pruners had a tough time cutting through a half-inch dowel. The lock is easy to slide with one hand, and the thick, rubberized top handle and thumb grip makes it easy to keep hold of these pruners in slippery circumstances. Our best value pick is the Fiskars Softgrip Bypass Pruner (available at Amazon for $8.99), which are surprisingly sharp and powerful for the price. The locking mechanism is a device that locks the pruning shears closed when not in use, this not only protects the blades from being damaged while not in use, it is also an important safety feature which keeps the sharp blades safely closed. When to use these pruners: Grab your Felco pruners to cut just about anything (except your bangs). With the Felcos, which come with a limited lifetime warranty, you can cut down the last year’s growth on your yew hedge, trim your roses, give them a quick clean, and then snip a few basil leaves to pretty up your plate of spaghetti. Some of the most reviewed tree pruners are the Fiskars PowerLever 1-1/8 in. All rights reserved. You will be surprised just what these pruners are able to cut through with ease. EZ Reach Stik Tree Pruner with 769 reviews. Pruning shears … (The ARS HP-120EU 8-Inch Hand Pruner we tested has a plastic handle, but it also costs $20 less than their premium pruner, the ARS HP-VS7XZ.). There are three main types of pruning shears, each type is designed for a slightly different use. Strengths: At $18 for a two-pack, the Bugui pruning shears are the least expensive shears we sampled. They did a better job of cutting thick branches than any other pruners in our sample. Most pruning shears have blades made of steel, but some are made of titanium or have a titanium coating to prevent rust and tarnishing. If you are any sort of a gardener then you have no doubt used a set of pruning shears at some point. Anvil style. Felco pruners have a solid reputation for a good reason: They cut cleanly through every plant you’re likely to encounter in your garden, from delicate flower stems to half-inch diameter branches. Many manufacturers offer easy-grip handles to … Sure, your cheaper pairs may work well the first time you use them and cut clean and straight, but when you store them away and get them back out to use a few weeks again later are they still sharp? Sale. Fiskars have been around for a long time in the gardening market, and they once again have produced another set of top quality shears. Some models of garden shears advertise that they have a titanium or chrome plating over the blades which helps stop them rusting. You really cannot go wrong with Felco. Strengths: The single word to describe these pruners is “smooth.” Opening and closing the Okatsune #103 pruners feels effortless, like a perfectly-tuned precision mechanism, and they close with a satisfying quiet “snnnk” sound. Choosing garden shears that fit your hands, have nice sharp blades and are manufactured of high-quality materials should be high on your checklist of selection criteria. The locking mechanism at the bottom of the handles cannot be closed with one hand. Ratchet pruners require multiple actions to perform a single cut and are mainly used by those with arthritis or other muscular/strength problems. Pruning shears are a basic tool for beginner gardeners and experts alike. The ergonomically designed curved handles make it easy to keep your grasp on these pruners even when the handles are wide open. Some pruning shears can be easily used on small trees too. Drawbacks: Although the manufacturer says that the F-2s have a one-inch cutting capacity, that “capacity” depends on your hand strength. They didn’t slice cleanly through half-inch cottonwood branches, leaving strings and fibers dangling that had to be re-cut. It isn’t as pleasingly smooth as the ARS or Felco pruners, and can feel as though it’s pushing back on your hands. It may seem like a trivial part, but it is one of the most important part of the tool. We use standardized and scientific testing methods to scrutinize every product and provide you with objectively accurate results. They amplify your strength and don’t leave you aching for days afterwards. 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