Secateursis one of the most important tools used in the garden. Indispensable for pruning shoots of fruit and ornamental trees and shrubs. There are many plants to trim in every garden, so a good pruner must be durable and comfortable to use. Seewhich secateurs to chooseand what to consider when choosing a garden secateurs. Better isanvil or scissor pruner ?
A good pruner leaves the cut perfectly smooth
Fig. RACO
Which secateurs is perfect?
An excellent secateursshould be light, cut with little force, not breakdown, and look good. Unfortunately, not all secateurs are able to meet all of these requirements. Therefore, it is worth considering longerwhich secateurs to chooseThis will save you a lot of effort, time and money.
Let's take a look at the secateurs that professionals useWhen working in an orchard, they often have to make several thousand cuts a day, so the products designed for them are particularly efficient and reliable. The special shape of the blade, ergonomic handles and perfect mechanisms guarantee work with minimum effort. The difference in action will be noticeable even for an amateur gardening.
It is also worth paying attention to the warranty and the availability of spare parts.Branded secateursmay have a warranty period of several years. On the other hand, the availability of spare parts proves that some parts of the pruning shears are subject to natural wear, but the entire device remains operational.Blades and springs are the most common ones. Good quality pruning shears can also be sharpened, thus extending their useful life.
Why is it worth investing in a good secateurs?
Good secateurs reduce the effortthat has to be put into work. Properly contoured ergonomic handles mean less strain on the hand and wrist.Buying a brand pruner is an investment in the comfort of the gardener's work .
Plants will also benefit from it, asblades of good quality secateurs damage the cut areas lessAs a result, cutting wounds heal faster and are less exposed to the risk of infection. A good quality secateurs will also last longer. Therefore, its higher price will pay off in a longer service life and better cutting quality.
What features of the secateurs are worth paying attention tois well illustrated by the graphics prepared by Wolf-Garten.
Features of a good secateurs
Fig. Wolf-Garten
Stainless or carbon steel blades?
The type of steel the pruner blades are made ofis the basic element influencing the durability of the tool and the quality of cuts.
If you make few cuts, choosepruning shears with stainless steel bladesYou won't have to take care of it and the stainless steel will last for many years. However, when the blades get dull, it will be quite difficult to sharpen a stainless steel pruner.
Therefore, if you make a lot of cuts, it is better to choosecarbon steel shearsThese blades provide rule easier and more precise cutting. And when the blades get dull, it's easy to sharpen them. This will allow you to use the secateurs for many years. However, you must remember to clean and maintain the tool. Always wipe it dry after use and store it in a dry place. Otherwise it will rust quickly.
Sometimes you can also find information thatthe pruning shears 'blades are covered with a non-stick coatingThis coating protects the pruning shears' blades against contamination by resin and juices flowing from the cut branches. Thanks to the non-stick coating, the pruning shears do not stick to the resin, which translates into a light and trouble-free cutting. Such a coating is covered with, among others, high-quality Wolf-Garten secateurs.
Anvil pruner or scissor pruner?
The difference between an anvil pruner and a scissor prunerlies in the design of the cutting mechanism. In an anvil pruner we have one blade that cuts a branch resting on a wide anvil. The cut is completed when the blade touches the anvil. In contrast, in a scissor pruner, both the blade and the counter-blade cut the branch. They do not touch each other, but (similar to scissors) they pass very close to each other.
Which type of secateurs is better?It depends on what branches and shoots you want to prune.
Two-handed anvil secateurs. Ideally cuts thick and higher situated branches.
Fig. RACO
Anvil secateurs- for cutting woody, hard, fibrous and dry branches. Therefore, it is perfect for winter pruning of fruit trees and shrubs, especially in an old orchard. Thanks to the strong anvil blades, you save up to 20% of the force compared to a shear pruner. So when you prune more trees and shrubs with hard woody branches, the work will be less tiring if you choose an anvil pruner. However, when cutting soft and green shoots, such secateurs may have a tendency to crush the shoots.
Scissor secateurs cut soft and green shoots better
Fig. Wolf-Garten
Scissor secateursis used for precise cutting of young and soft shoots of trees and shrubs.It will be perfect for summer pruning performed during the tree growth period, as well as for pruning young plants whose shoots have not yet lignified. Thanks to the use of a scissor pruner, wounds after cutting on soft shoots and twigs that are still not lignified will heal much faster. The scissor blade also allows you to cut close to the trunk.
As you can see,it is best to have both types of secateursand choose the one appropriate for the type of shoots and branches you want to cut. Therefore, for our customers, we have prepared a set of two secateurs - one for anvil and one for scissors. By buying 2 secateurs in the set you will save PLN 20: -)
Does the size of the secateurs matter?
For cutting smaller plants and shrubs, you usually chooseone-handed secateurs , which is light and handy, and you can even hide it in your pocket.For cutting thicker and higher branches - on larger shrubs and for pruning trees -two-handed secateursTheir long arms allow you to reach higher and also cut with greater force.
Two-handed secateurs will be useful for cutting trees
Fig. Wolf-Garten
In the case oftwo-handed secateurswe usually have several arm lengths to choose from. Is it worth buying the longest secateurs? According to the laws of physics, the long arm translates to less effort when cutting. However, it is fatal, because the apparent lightness of work may lead to the failure of the secateurs. When cutting thicker branches, we sometimes tilt the secateurs, which in the worst case results in the blade breaking. Thereforefor very thick branches use asaw, and branches up to 4 cm thick should be cut with a medium-length secateurs.
An alternative solution for cutting thick and hard branches, instead of lengthening the arms of the secateurs, is a larger opening angle.An example of agood wide-angletwo-hand secateurs are the Wolf-Garten POWER-CUT secateurs. They can work in two modes. The narrow spacing angle allows for quick and agile cutting of thinner branches one after the other. Selecting a wide opening angle in POWER-CUT mode will allow you to obtain a high manpower. Even branches up to 50 mm thick are cut with a feeling of lightness and comfort. The principle of operation of this mechanism is well illustrated in the graphic below.
Meaning of the opening angle in two-handed secateurs
Fig. Wolf-Garten
A large selection ofsecateurs, both one-handed and two-handed, can be found in the shop of our guide. We test and check the secateurs available in our store ourselves in our own gardens. Thanks to this, we have prepared a proven offer of reliable tools. To see all available secateurs, press the button below: -)
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