One of the most important and most used tool of a gardener are hand pruners. It is one of those tools that a gardener will have with them every time they head out to the garden. Just about every time I head out to our garden to do something whether it be water, check on an ongoing problem, pick anything that is ready, I find some reason to pull out a set of garden hand pruners. It has become one of those tools I take with me for every trip to the garden. After putting away our gardening gear for the season, I realized that we really need a new garden hand pruner for next season.
If you are serious into gardening or yard care, it will probably be beneficial for you to have one of each type of hand pruner. Regardless of what type of prune you determine you need, there are a few aspects to consider when choosing one.
When choosing pruner of any kind, look for these features:
- comfortably fit into your hand
- be lightweight
- should be able to be locked one-handed.
- have blades coated to reduce friction and rust
- have blades that are durable and able to be resharpened.
- Bonus: Company sells replacement parts, this means they intend for the product to last a long time and are not disposable after one season.
Not all hand pruners are the same and there are some brands that are far superior to others. This article will focus on the different kinds of hand pruners so that you can choose which one best fits your needs. It will also look at the differences between brands Some aspects we considered were, type of grip, locking mechanism, shape of blade, customer reviews, and price.
What type of hand pruner do I need?
There are three main types of hand pruners:
- Bypass Pruners
- Anvil Pruners
- Snips
Brand Comparison
There are so many gardening pruner brands on the market today. Many of them are just junk. Dull blades, faulty locking mechanisms, loose screws and springs. I have bought my fair share of cheap (under $5) pairs in the past. A good pair of gardening pruners that will last you multiple seasons is something worth researching prior to purchasing. We compared a number of popular brands in this article and summarize which ones may be the best fit for you.
Bypass Pruners
These types of pruners have a curved blade on top and a curved hook on the bottom. The curved hook on the bottom is used to hold the branch in place while the curved blade on top makes a clean cut. Bypass pruners are used on live plants because it allows for a clean cut that will not damage the branch or stem of the plant.
| Brand: | Fiskars Bypass Pruning Shears |
Felco F-2 Classic Hand Pruner |
gonicc 8″ Bypass Pruning Shears |
Corona BP 3180D Forged Bypass Pruners |
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| Price: | $ | $$ | $ | $ |
| Cutting ability: | 5/8 in diameter branches | 1 in diameter branches | 3/4 in diameter branches | 1 in in diameter branches |
| Weight: | 10.4 ounces | 10.2 ounces | 6.4 ounces | 13.6 ounces |
| Material: | Steel | Steel | Premium titanium steel blade, dropped forged body and handles | High carbon steel blades |
| Blade design: | Top blade has a low-friction coating that is designed to cut smoothly through branches and resist rust. | This set is listed as an anvil blade type but the top blade passes the bottom blade when closed making it more of a bypass blade. It does not have a flat anvil plate the the top blade comes to rest on. It can be used on live plants like other bypass blades. Blades have a sap groove and a wire cutting notch. | Titanium steel with ultra-fine polishing technology. Sap groove design. | Heat-treated forged steel construction for strength |
| Grip: | Non-slip grip. | Ergonomically designed rubber cushion and shock absorber. | Non-slip grip is lightweight and comfortable. | Non-slip grip for greater control. |
| Locking Mechanism: | Opening or closing is done by pushing an orange button and sliding it up or down. | While squeezing the handles together, move the black locking mechanism to the left to unlock. | Would need to hands to lock. Squeeze handles together and slide the black lock up to the left to slide the lock into the notch on the handle. | One handle has a small hook which will attached to a small ring located on the other handle. |
| Reviews: | Numerous recent reviews said that the quality was bad. Locking button fails, blade damage and dulls after little use. | Great reviews. Customers say these are the best and well worth the price. They report that this is a larger set of pruners so if you have smaller hand you should purchase their smaller model: Felco F-2 Manual Hand Pruner for Smaller Hands. | Very good reviews. Many customers were pleased with the quality and sharpness of the blade. Several commented on how responsive the customer service was. A few negative reviews were made that speak to the poor design of the locking mechanism. | Mixed reviews. Some customers are satisfied with the preformance of these pruners, however there are many recent negative comments about the quality of these pruners. Some customers experienced breakage or wear after little use. |
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Anvil Pruners
These pruners have a sharp blade on top and a flat plate on the bottom blade. The blade will come in contact with the plate and will smash the branch, breaking it into pieces. These are intended to be used on dead limbs and branches. If used on live plants, it could damage and kill them.
| Brand: | Fiskars Smooth Action Anvil Pruner | Felco F-31 Anvil Pruning Shear | gonicc Anvil Pruning Shears | Corona AP 3110 Anvil Hand Pruner |
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| Image: | | | | |
| Price: | $ | $$$ | $ | $ |
| Cutting ability: | 1 in diameter branches | 1 in diameter branches | 1 in diameter branches | 3/4 in diameter branches |
| Weight: | N/A | 10.9 ounces | 6.4 ounces | 7.8 ounces |
| Material: | Steel | Blades are made of steel. Handles are made of forged aluminum. | Blade is ultra-fine polishing SK-1 steel. | Blade is fully heat-treated steel with non-stick coating. Grip is vinyl-coated. |
| Blade design: | Top blade has a low-friction coating that is designed to cut smoothly through branches and resist rust. | Both top blade and bottom anvil plate are made of steel. | Double gear level provides one-time cut. | Easy-to-replace anvil and precision-ground blade. |
| Grip: | Soft grip. | Rubber non-slip grip | Shock absorption to soften impact and protect hand and wrist. Lightweight and comfortable. | Pistol-grip handles are comfortable. |
| Locking Mechanism: | Opening or closing is done by pushing an orange button and sliding it up or down. | While squeezing the handles together, move the black locking mechanism to the left to unlock. | Squeeze handles together whole holding in one hand, Use thumb to pull down metal safety lock. | Squeeze while holding in one hand. Use thumb to push the metal latch into the notch. |
| Reviews: | Numerous recent reviews said that the quality was bad. Locking button fails, blade damage and dulls after little use. | Great reviews. Customers say these are the best and well worth the price. They report that this is a larger set of pruners so if you have smaller hand you should purchase their smaller model: Felco F-2 Manual Hand Pruner for Smaller Hands. | Many positive reviews about product being a great value. A few negative reviews about large size of pruners. | Very disappointing reviews. Many customers were unhappy with the quality of these pruners. Customers reported dull blades during first use. |
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Snips
These are sharp with scissor-like blades. They are perfect for deadheading flowers, trimming herbs, and shaping small plants.
| Brand: | Fiskars Micro-Tip Pruning Snips | Felco F-310 Picking and Trimming Snips | gonicc Micro-Tip Pruning Snip | Corona Thinning Shears |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image: | | | | |
| Price: | $ | $$$ | $ | $ |
| Cutting ability: | Use for deadheading, trimming, and shaping small plants. | Use for deadheading, trimming, and shaping small plants. | Use for deadheading, trimming, and shaping small plants. | Use for deadheading, trimming, and shaping small plants. |
| Weight: | 2.4 ounces | 4.6 ounces | 4.3 ounces | 4.3 ounces |
| Material: | Fully hardened, precision-ground stainless steel blades. | Blades are made of steel. | Stainless steel blades and aluminum and PVC handles. | Forged alloy steel blades and aluminum and rubber handles. |
| Blade design: | Two sharp, precision blades with non-stick coating. | Both blades are made of stainless steel. | Two straight blades. | |
| Grip: | Comfortable Softgrip handles | Hard plastic grip | Lightweight and comfortable, non-slip handles | Cushioned, non-slip grip |
| Locking Mechanism: | Squeeze handles together and slide orange button upwards. | Metal locking mechanism can be locked/unlocked while holding in one hand. | Black strap attached to one handle will be slipped over other handle. | One handle has a small hook which will attached to a small ring located on the other handle. |
| Reviews: | Customers reported very positive reviews about these snips. They said that the quality was good and that they easily cut through the flowers and herbs that they were using. Snips are used for very delicate cutting so naturally these snips would not see the size branches that would be cut with a bypass or anvil pruner. | Excellant reviews. Customers rave about how easy these are to use and how they have held up after years of use. | Awesome reviews about durability, strength, and ease of use. Comments say that these snips are worth the money | Awesome reviews, Customers lover hoe lightweight they are and how cleanly the cut. |
| Amazon Affiliate Link: | See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Amazon |
Best Pruners
| Best Bypass Pruner | Best Anvil Pruner | Best Snips | If you were only going to buy one hand pruner of any style |
|---|---|---|---|
| Corona BP 3180D Forged ByPass Pruners | gonicc Anvil Pruning Shears | gonicc Micro-Tip Pruning Snip | Felco F-2 Classic Hand Pruner |
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| We chose this one as the best overall bypass pruner. Receiving excellent reviews, these pruners are reasonably priced. Owners speak to the durability and strength of these pruners. For these reasons, this set is the best value. | These pruners received great reviews from customers about how good of a value they are. They are comfortable, affordably priced, and can be locked with one hand. | Many reviews stated that these were worth the money. They are lightweight, and have sharp, precise blades. | While the Corona bypass pruner came in at the top due to it's great durability and affordable price, if you were only going to purchase one hand tool for your gardening and yard needs, you should splurge and purchase the Felco Classic Hand Pruner. |
| See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Amazon | See on Amazon |
Hopefully this post provided you with guidance on how to choose the type and brand of your next garden hand pruner.
After purchasing several cheap hand pruners over the last few years, I was looking for a long lasting hand pruner. After examining the features or these hand pruners, I planning to purchase the Felco F-2 Classic Hand Pruner for next season.
Are there any hand pruners that you have that you love? Any other types of pruners that are necessary for gardeners and homesteaders to own? Leave a comment below!
Welcome to Wingin’ it on the Homestead! My name is Stephanie Leaf. I am a wife to a can-fix-anything husband, mother of two boys under 3, future expert gardener, lover of anything old and dusty, and inspiring homesteader. My family and I are new to this journey and loving every minute of it. Please join me in embracing a simpler life!