The beauty of a garden is that it’s alive. The downside is it keeps growing – and needs a haircut once in a while. But one tool doesn’t cut all – there are different cutters for different jobs.
WATCH: Charlie’s guide to gardening tools
Here’s how to choose the best one for your patch!
Hedge shears
The long, straight blades are designed to cut a much larger area with each stroke than any other pruning tool. You can also get them with a wavy edge to make it easier to grip stems as you cut, but these edges are harder to sharpen.
Pruning saws
Pruning saws look like carpentry saws, except that they’re designed for cutting through living timber. To make a clean cut and not damage your tree, first make a cut underneath the limb you’re removing, about halfway through, then cut from the top to meet this bottom cut. This way the limb doesn’t tear and attract disease.
Secateurs or pruners
There are two types of secateurs or pruners – bypass and anvil. If you only want one tool get a bypass.
Anvils cut in much the same way as a knife on a cutting board – the blade is pushed through the material onto the anvil, crushing the soft tissue and damaging your plants. An anvil’s main function is cutting up dead wood, but bypass pruners can do that job too. Bypass pruners work like scissors and don’t crush your plant material. You can also use them to cut herbs or deadhead flowers, although snips give you more agility.
TIP – These may be the smallest tools in your box, so are the easiest to leave behind in the garden when you head indoors. Get a pouch for your belt and they’ll be by your side forever!
Telescopic tree pruner
The serrated blade or pruners at the end of a pole let you reach branches more than 3m high. Use the cord either to activate cutting or reduce the pull distance for each cut. Curved blades help you grip the branch. Straight blades tend to slip.
Grass shears
With these tools, the handles are at angles to the blades, making it easier to edge or cut grass where it’s difficult to get your mower in. You can get long or short handles, depending on your garden layout and what obstacles there are.
Loppers
Use long-handled loppers for pruning parts of plants that sit above your head. The strong blades cut through limbs and vines that are thicker than 6cm. The curved blades mean you get a better grip on branches.
Topiary shears
When trimming topiaries, you need a steady hand so you don’t inadvertently destroy the shape. Topiary shears are spring-loaded to open automatically and you have to deliberately apply force to make a cut.
Usage tips
- Try before you buy tools for two reasons. Firstly, to ensure they’re a comfortable weight, especially if you’re raising your arms to do cutting. Secondly, to ensure the handles sit comfortably in your grip, given our hands are all different sizes.
- Clean them after use, as dirty tools can spread pests and diseases. Keep them oiled and sharp for better long-term performance.
For garden tools, visit cyclone.com.au.
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