Garden pruner — tips on choosing a tool and an overview of the best models (125 photos)

Gardening should be fun. A wide variety of improvised mechanisms are used to care for trees and shrubs. They help prune rose bushes, renew fruit trees. Among the many types, models and brands, it is very difficult for even professionals to navigate. But the invariable requirement is functionality, ergonomics and efficiency in work.

How to choose a pruner, what to pay attention to – we'll talk about this in the article.

Summary of the article:

Even novice gardeners are aware of the need to regularly prune trees and shrubs in their backyard. This way you will be able to form the correct crown in a timely manner, adjust its growth, size and shape.

As a result, fruiting increases, and the harvesting procedure is greatly simplified. An indispensable assistant in this case is an ordinary garden pruner.

These devices can be of various types, which allows for high-quality pruning of young trees, giving shrubs the most bizarre decorative shape. With their help, you can quickly thin out the crown, eliminating excessive density, which harms the future harvest and visibility on the site.

Sick or dead twigs are also effectively eliminated. If you grow flowers for sale or just for home decoration, then with this tool you can easily cut beautiful buds. It is also used in the care of the vine, in the process of regulating the length of the root system, for cutting cuttings.

A high-quality unit allows you to cut twigs with minimal effort, and the slices themselves should be smooth, clean. Torn edges should not be created in the place of the cut, as this often leads to diseases of the plant. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the strength and reliability of the structure.

All the variety of models can be seen in the photo of the garden pruner. In the standard design , such composite elements are distinguished:

the knife of the supporting action;
working version of the cutting blade;
spring;
mounting axis with bolt and nut;
lock or lock;
handles.

The main types and their applicability

Depending on the features of the cutting cloth, planar and contact structures are distinguished. The planar pruner has straight-shaped cutting components. It is effectively used for thinning young plants, pruning branches.

Equipped with two blades – a cutting and a counter-knife – ensures a neat cut shape. The knives are pressed into the branch without a strong compression effect and with minimal damage to the wood.

The contact design is more suitable for cutting hard or dry wood. This is possible due to the presence of one knife and a stop. The cutting plane penetrates into the tree, and the stop ensures the fastening of the branch and the distribution of pressure evenly along the cut line without splitting.

The task that you set for yourself when carrying out gardening work determines the choice. If you need to process annual or perennial trees and shrubs, then the planar type will suit you. For curly and formative cutting of plants, it is better to choose the contact option.

Using garden equipment, you need to do it correctly – you should not injure yourself or the plant. If there are two cutting surfaces in the model used, then you can hold it in any way.

When you cut young plants with a planar model, it is advisable to place it perpendicular to the branch. But if it is thick, then you need to perform this action at an angle, which will greatly simplify the task.

The contact tool should be oriented along the root to prevent injury to the tree or bush. The direction of the sharp blade to the root will not lead to splitting of the stem.

Types and their features

An important characteristic of the garden tool in question is the pruner mechanism. It depends on its features how easy it is to manipulate it and which plants can be pruned.

Garden shears

They have two cutting surfaces similar to ordinary household scissors. The design allows you to make more even cuts. But if you process thicker and denser stems, plant tissues will be strongly squeezed.

In this regard, professionals offer to choose for cutting flowers and young plants with a diameter of 15-20 mm.

Bypass view

They have one convex cutting surface. The second part is shifted relative to it and acts as a stop. When a working operation occurs, the cutting element moves along the stem along the stop.

The tool should be taken so that the main part is oriented to the branch. In this case, the base does not deteriorate, but the cut-off area will be deformed.

This option is suitable for adjusting the branches going into growth, and for grafting operations. But you need to choose those products that do not have a gap between the blades. Otherwise, you will not be able to get a high-quality slice. The branch will crumple under pressure.

Fixture with anvil

The action of the tool is not based on cutting, but chopping, as in the guillotine. The sharp blade joins with a wide support – anvil and splits the stem. If the cutting cloth is metal, then soft materials, such as plastic, are used to finish the stop. So you will be able to successfully trim and not damage the blade when touching the anvil.

The presence of this support platform will help to cut thick and dry branches efficiently and quickly during the sanitary treatment of trees and shrubs in the garden. Stems up to 30 mm in diameter can be affected.

Ratchet models

Due to the presence of a spring that returns to its original position after pressing, it is possible to cut thicker branches without making serious efforts.

Ratchet secateurs ensure a smooth and smooth cut surface due to the fact that the cutting blade itself remains motionless when the spring returns. But the time spent on processing green and dry branches is much longer than when using other types of inventory.

Battery models

The mechanism is similar to the usual bypass, but it is activated not by the mechanical movement of a person's hand, but by the energy of the battery. It is enough to press the lever and the blades make the desired cut in a given place.

Models with a lithium-ion battery have an advantage. It weighs less, small in size. The battery is recharged fast enough, keeps the charge well.

As a result, you get a mobile and maneuverable unit. It can be used in the care of flower beds, young trees. The maximum thickness of the treated parts of the plant is 15-17 mm.

Features of the tool for various types of work

Depending on what you will prune in your garden, the appropriate tool is selected. After all, you may need both a sharp compact and a large pruner.

Florists are more suitable for garden shears. The planar structure makes it easy to trim the soft fabric of flower stems, twine and decorative elements.

But when pruning roses will have to work hard. Both young shoots and harder and drier ones are present on the bushes. To trim the first, a planar type device is required, and for the second, a contact device with a ratchet or a power mechanism. The presence of a holder will help to avoid pricks with spikes.

To process vines, you need to stock up on tools of three designs:

A planar unit for summer manipulations.
Contact inventory for spring and autumn pruning. This type will help to carefully care for the vine without splitting or injuring it. It is desirable to have a power or ratchet mechanism.
A knot cutter for thick old stems.

Perennial shrubs should be treated with a contact-type device. A planar telescopic pruner is useful for curly haircuts.

It is better to form the crown of trees with the help of knot cutters, which are amenable to thicker wood. Thanks to the planar type of construction, they can easily cut live branches, but dry ones are cut off by a contact model. It is advisable to have a power component. A pruner with long handles will help you reach even the crown.

How to choose correctly

When selecting a convenient and high-quality model, pay attention to the following factors:

The condition of the blade and the level of its sharpening. High-quality samples are made of hardened steel. They resist corrosion and do not require sharpening for a long time.

The ratchet mechanism helps to ease the effort and reduce fatigue, as it begins to act when the pressure level on the material decreases.

The material from which the handles are made determines the ergonomics of the inventory. It is not recommended to take products with holders made of pure plastic. Rubberized inserts are required.

The inventory with polyamide handles having fiberglass reinforcement, as well as aluminum handles with rubber linings, has proven itself well.

The rotating mechanism of the lower handle reduces hand friction and reduces stress during operation.

The quality of the springs determines the ease of movement of the blades. In comparison with the spiral type, belt springs are recognized as more successful. The return spring is characterized by greater durability.

The presence of Teflon treatment or a chrome layer on the blades eliminates the phenomenon of sticking due to the ingress of juice or other pollutants on them.

Brand and manufacturer. By this parameter, you can choose any option you like. But such proven brands as RACO, Gardena, Fiskars, Felco, Brigadier, ARS, Centroinstument, Berger are characterized by popularity.

Using a garden tool greatly simplifies the life of any experienced or novice gardener. Processing trees and shrubs is not a very simple task. Therefore, you will definitely need this effective and productive assistant for regular pruning of plants or in the process of curly hedge cutting.