What are the best pruning shears available? There are a lot of pruning shears on the market but some are better than others and since you only need one pair why not buy the best pruning shears available on the market. Today I’ll talk about the best pruning shears for the money, and also show you several other excellent options; providing you with enough information to find a hand pruner that you’ll love.
And yes, “the best” is always subjective. What’s good for one person may not be ideal for another due a full myriad of factors, including: price, size, and/or ergonomics – which is precisely why I always provide readers with alternatives when reviewing products.
What is pruning?
Pruning has been around for thousands of years but the traditional pruning scissor design got its start in 1819 when French aristocrat Antoine Francois Bertrand was labeled as the inventor of the “secateurs,” or otherwise known as pruning shears.
Also called “hand pruners” this tool is essentially a specialized type of scissor intended to be used on plants. The act of pruning is a horticultural activity which involves trimming parts of a plant or tree, such as: buds, branches or roots for the purpose of shaping, maintaining health, removing dead parts, preparing specimens for transporting, and/or to increase the yield or overall quality of fruits and flowers.
The purpose of pruning is to remove unwanted tissue from crops, plants or trees, which may be diseased, damaged, dead or structurally unsafe. The ultimate purpose of pruning is to increase the overall health of the plants to make it more suitable for harvesting which means increasing the overall yield or quality of flowers or plants.
Different plant varieties may require unique pruning practices. Weather can induce self-pruning in plants which is referred to as: abscission. For example, the wind often induces falling leaves.
A variety of tools can be used for pruning such as the Black & Decker Alligator lopper (or loppers in general), chainsaws, pole pruners or hand pruners. Hand pruners are the focus of our discussion today. Hand pruners are suited for small cutting, whereas a chainsaw, pole pruner or lopper is built for medium-to-large cutting.
Here’s an excellent guide from Virginia Tech University on the best times to prune for a large variety of plants and shrubs: A Guide to Successful Pruning, Shrub Pruning Calendar
And if you want detailed information on how to prune properly then you may want to have a look at The Pruning Book. Pruning is far more complicated than you might think. You’ll find more success with your plants if you learn the right way to prune.
There are three distinct blade designs for pruning shears: anvil, bypass and parrot-beak. Anvil is best for cutting thicker branches as they tend to crush smaller stems. Bypass blades work like scissors and are the most common type of blades. Lastly, parrot-beak are quite rare these days – best for narrower stems.
Now that you know a little more about pruning it’s time to take a look at my pick for the best pruning shears available to you. Fiskars makes excellent products and based on customer satisfaction their products are easy to recommend.
Fiskars Bypass Pruner | Best Pruning Shears
The Fiskars Bypass Pruner is an excellent pair (and very inexpensive) hand pruner, built and engineered to high standards, as all Fiskars products are. Durable and dependable, this classically designed pruner is an essential tool for all gardeners. Constructed out of quality steel, including the handles; comfortable and easy to use for extended periods of time. The commonly used bypass blade allows you to consistently make clean cuts and allow you to tackle all of your small gardening projects around the yard.
Word of advice for this pruner and when using any other brand of pruner: Make sure you don’t store this hand pruner when wet or it may rust. My suggestion: dry it off after use and lubricate with WD40 after each use to keep the mechanism well lubricated, and it also prevents rust.
The Fiskars Bypass Pruner is best suited for cutting up to 1.59 cm (.62 inches). If you need to prune larger branches then consider the Fiskars 9124 Professional Bypass Pruning Shears which can cut up to 3.54 cm (1-inch). And, if you need to cut even larger branches then you need to take it one step further and purchase a quality lopper, such as one of these tools:
- Fiskars PowerGear Bypass. L: 32″. Cuts up to: 2-inches
- Fiskars PowerGear Anvil Lopper. L: 15″. Cuts up to: 1.25-inches
- Fiskars PowerGear Bypass Lopper. L: 18″. Cuts up to: 1.5-inches
Or. if you really want a heavy-duty power pruner then the innovative Alligator Lopper is a really cool power tool, but perhaps that’s far more tool than you need. Either way, it’s something to consider for your future projects.
I have to admit, I like to recommend Fiskars products because they’re an excellent company with a strong commitment to quality and a long history of manufacturing. And, their products come with a lifetime warranty. It’s good to see a company stand behind the products they manufacture. You can learn more about the company in my article on their line of cutting and splitting axes.
You can also see Fiskars full line of pruners, and other products on their website which provides you a fantastic overview on all their tools.
My Choice for the Best Pruning Shears
I can wholeheartedly say that the Fiskars Bypass hand pruner is easily one of the best pruning shears that you can buy. That’s not to say that there aren’t other good options available to you, but this is an excellent choice. But you’ll be happy to know that the next section provides you a quick look at other quality available pruning shears that are worth spending your money on.
Buy from Amazon: Fiskars Bypass Pruner
Features:
- UltraBlade low-friction coating will stay sharp 5X longer. Corrosion resistant.
- Made of steel.
- Sharp, precision-ground blade edge.
- Completely hardened steel blade.
- Non-slip grip for comfort and safety.
- Can be used left or right-handed.
- Bypass blade – for clean cuts of green, living growth.
- Cutting ability: 1.59 cm (5/8 inch).
- Lifetime warranty.
More Hand Pruners
There’s no shortage of hand pruners for you to choose from. Everyone has different needs so I like to provide alternative choices to readers of Chainsaw Journal because it’s important to match the right tool for you. Each model has its own unique characteristics and features so take your time and choose wisely.
Felco F-13 Classic Manual | Best Pruning Shears
Recommended: for cutting up to 1.2 inches.
Features:
- Perfect for light cutting.
- Corrosion resistant.
- Easy to replace adjustable blades.
- Comfortable handles absorb shock.
- Blades are made hardened steel.
- Limited lifetime warranty.
Fiskars 9124 Professional Bypass | Best Pruning Shears
Recommended: for cutting up to 1-inch.
Features:
- Innovative angled cutting head minimizes wrist fatigue.
- Self-cleaning sap groove prevents blades from sticking together.
- Sharp, precision-ground blade edge.
- Make precise cuts by adjusting the blade tension.
- Replaceable blades that can be resharpened.
- Hardened blade allows it to remain sharp for an extended period of time.
- Corrosion resistant, non-stick blade makes cutting easier by reducing friction.
- Patented FiberComp: Composite materials provide strength and durability.
- Can be used right or left-handed.
- Bypass blade-for clean cuts of green, living growth.
- Lifetime warranty
Fiskars Softouch Micro-Tip Pruning Snip | Best Pruning Shears
Recommended for: deadheading, trimming herbs, shaping and other quick snips on small plants.
Features:
- Well suited for deadheading, trimming or shaping. Great for quick snips on small plants.
- Awarded the Arthritis Foundation Ease-of-Use Commendation. Perfect for people with arthritis or weak hand strength.
- Action spring-action design gently opens blades after every cut to minimize hand strain.
- Fully hardened, precision-ground stainless-steel blades stay sharp, even after heavy usage.
- Softgrip touchpoints increase comfort and user control.
- Easy to open lock mechanism protects the blades during transport and storage.
- Comes with a protective blade cover.
- Length: 6-inches.
- Lifetime warranty
Felco F-2 Classic Manual Hand Pruner | Best Pruning Shears
Great for: large hands.
Features:
- Good pruner for small cutting jobs. Also, easy to adjust.
- Micrometric adjustment system ensures optimal adjustment of the cutting head.
- Notch allows you to cut small wires without damaging the blade edge.
- Replaceable Swiss blade.
- Shock absorption system.
- Vinyl coated handle to absorb shock and provides comfort.
- Sap groove on bottom blade keeps blades from sticking.
Fiskars PowerGear Large Bypass Pruner | Best Pruning Shears
Recommended for: cutting up to 1.9 cm (.75-inches)
Features:
- PowerGear mechanism increases leverage and makes cutting 3X easier.
- Awarded the Arthritis Friendly Award from The Arthritis Society.
- Best for average to larger sized hands.
- Ergonomic rolling handles reduce fatigue.
- Easy-to-adjust handle opening.
- Sharp, precision-ground blade edge.
- Fully hardened steel blade maintains sharp edge longer.
- Corrosion resistant, non-stick blade reduces friction allowing for easier cutting.
- Ergonomic handle is comfortable to hold and work with.
Patented FiberComp: Composite materials provide strength and durability. - Bypass blade-for clean cuts of green, living growth
- Cutting capacity: 1.9 cm (.75-inches)
- Lifetime warranty
Corona Classic Cut Forged Bypass Pruner | BP 3180
Recommended for: cutting up to .39 cm (1-inch).
Features:
- Designed for accurate, clean and close cuts.
- Narrow profile allows you to cut in tight spaces.
- Made of fully-treated, forged steel alloy. Resharpenable and easy to replace.
- Designed with a hook sap groove which reduces debris and maintains optimal cutting action.
- Built-in wire-cutting notch.
- Limited lifetime warranty.