Pruning shears are the most important – and perhaps the most used – pruning tool, making them an essential item in your gardening toolkit. They are primarily designed for cutting through woody stems, as they have large, sturdy blades. But they can also be used to trim the thinner stems of herbaceous perennials, to cut off spent flowers, or to generally tidy up a plant. A quality pair of pruning shears can last a lifetime – unless you accidentally dump them in the compost or lose them!
There are two main types of loppers – bypass and anvil. Bypass loppers cut with a scissor-like action, with the upper blade cutting through the lower blade. With their sharp blades, they create a very clean, fast-healing cut, making them a good choice for cutting through green plant material. But they can also be used on dead, brown plant material. Explore our buying guide for loppers with anvils.
Once you’ve decided that you need pruning shears, comfort is just as important. Before you buy a new pair of shears, it’s a good idea to try them out first. What I mean by that is to pick them up, hold them in your hand, and operate them. Are they light enough to use for long periods of time, or are they too heavy for you? Are your hands large enough to comfortably and easily grip both handles when they’re open? Are the cutting and spring mechanisms smooth, or are they “clunky”?
Heavy or large pruning shears, especially those with wide handle openings, can be awkward and inconvenient to use, especially if you have small hands and tire from long pruning sessions. But keep in mind that handle openings can affect the maximum cutting width; narrower openings usually mean a narrower cutting diameter than their larger counterparts.
And it’s important to consider the maximum cutting diameter; don’t try to cut through anything wider with your shears, as it’s easy to damage the plant and the shears by damaging the blades and cutting mechanism.
If you are left-handed, you may find it difficult to use ‘normal’ pruning shears designed for right-handed people. Fortunately, some manufacturers make models specifically for left-handed people, such as Felco, Niwaki and Spear & Jackson. If you are left-handed and using pruning shears designed for right-handed people, you may find those with a central sliding blade lock or a bottom clamp blade lock more convenient.
You need a good quality, strong blade that produces clean, beautiful cuts with minimal effort. Generally, you get what you pay for, so look for well-known and recognized brands. High carbon steel is strong, durable, and long-lasting. Japanese SK5 high carbon steel is considered the best for blades, extremely strong with excellent quality and easy to sharpen. SK3 is similar.
Other things to consider when choosing pruning shears include:
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Soft rubber shock absorbers, bumpers or pads on top of the handlebars help reduce vibration and absorb any excess force, increasing comfort and helping to prevent musculoskeletal problems.
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Contoured, molded, or ergonomic grips can provide a more comfortable feel, better grip on your fingers, and prevent excessive hand movement and slippage.
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The non-slip handle keeps the shears from slipping out of your hands.
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The blade is coated with non-stick PTFE or similar material for better rust resistance and smoother cutting.
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The sap channel, a small inlet along the bottom blade, directs sap away from the cutting edge and helps prevent the blade from jamming.
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Strong return spring, stays in place when trimming and never pops out.
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A good blade lock keeps the blade tight when not in use; a loose lock can also affect trimming.
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Some pruning shears have a two-position switch that changes the opening of the handle and thus changes the cutting diameter of the blade.
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Some manufacturers offer replaceable parts, so you can buy new blades, springs, and other parts to get your pruners working again without having to buy a new pair. Felco pruners are fully serviceable.
I have tested a number of different pruning shears and these are my favourites. They all work well, cut cleanly and easily and I can’t choose which pair are the best. This goes to show that buying quality from a reputable manufacturer is worth it. But you will find that they have different features which, depending on personal preference, you may prefer.
Best pruning shears: Corona Max Forged DualCUT Branch and Trunk Pruning Pruner; Darlac Expert Bypass Branch Pruner; Felco Model 2; Kent & Stowe SureCut Lite Multi-Purpose Pruner; Niwaki GR Pro Pruner; Spear & Jackson Razorsharp PRO Pruner with Heavy Duty Titanium Coating
Best small, lightweight pruning shears: Wilkinson Sword RazorCut Comfort Large Bypass Pruning Shears; Bulldog Tools Premier Bypass Pruning Shears
We like: Sure cutting action
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Cutting diameter 2cm
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Weight 185g
A pair of compact pruning shears with high carbon SK5 blades. Comfortable soft grip handles encase the alloy body. Single guard and blade locking clip at the bottom of the handle.
Recommended retail price20 pounds
Available at Pedigree Garden Tools
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We like: Sure cutting action
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Cutting diameter 2.5cm
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Weight 215g
A sturdy yet lightweight pair of pruning shears with high carbon steel blades and strong cutting force. Ergonomic alloy handles covered in soft plastic. Single rubber cushion. Spare blade and spring included.
We like: Two cutting zones
Made entirely of high-carbon steel, handle and blade are one piece for maximum durability. Comfortable non-slip grip and two built-in bumpers. Sturdy internal spring that can’t be lost. Two cutting zones: PrecisionZONE for smaller bodies; PowerZONE for larger trunks and branches.
We like: Two cutting diameters
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Cutting diameter 2.5cm
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Weight 248g
These pruning shears feature a sturdy drop-forged alloy body and SK5 high carbon steel blades. The plastic-coated handles provide a comfortable grip, feature deeper sap grooves, two guards, and a two-position switch that changes the clearance between the handle and blade.
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We like: Rotary blade cutting mechanism
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Cutting diameter 2cm
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Weight 210g
The metal reinforced plastic body makes these pruning shears very lightweight. The high carbon steel blades have a non-stick coating to prevent corrosion, the soft grip handles are comfortable to use and feature a sliding blade lock.
We like: Sure cutting action
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Cutting diameter 2.5cm
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Weight 248g
These Felcos feature ergonomic aluminum alloy handles, covered with soft, non-slip plastic, and high-quality carbon steel blades. The rubber pads are well sized for shock absorption.
We like: Grip
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Cutting diameter 2.4cm
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Weight 300g
The die-cast aluminum handles feature micro hexagon grips that ensure they stay secure in your hand even when wet. They feature SK5 high carbon steel blades, two large bumpers, a two-position switch that changes the clearance between the handle and blade, and a sliding blade lock.
We like: One-piece body and blade
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Cutting diameter 1.5cm
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Weight 248g
With a solid S58C high carbon steel body and blade for maximum durability. Simple, solid springs provide a secure feel and a sure cutting action. Yellow vinyl handles make them stand out in the garden. Blade locking clip at the bottom of the handle. Spare spring included.
Recommended retail price84 pounds
Available from Burford Garden Co.
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We like: Titanium coated blade
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Cutting diameter 2cm
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Weight 248g
These pruning shears feature forged aluminum handles and carbon steel blades, titanium coated, drop forged for durability, smooth cutting and rust resistance. The ergonomic plastic coated handles are comfortable to hold and have good rubber grips.
We like: Integrated return spring and large bumper
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Cutting diameter 2cm
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Weight 220g
These products feature lightweight yet sturdy cast aluminum handles with soft grip inserts and high carbon SK5 steel blades. Large shock absorbing rubber bumpers housed in springs. Sliding blade lock.
We like: Internal return spring mechanism
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Cutting diameter 2.5cm
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Weight 305g
With a durable aluminum handle with smooth clear plastic and a PTFE coated blade, the spring return mechanism is integrated into the knife body so nothing can fall out and be lost. There is a sliding blade lock on both sides of the knife body for right and left handed use and a single guard.
