Pruning Tools
Selecting the Right Tool for the Job
An Organic Master Gardening student reaches into a tree's canopy with long handled loppers.
Torn branches are a result of using the incorrect and dull tool.
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I’ll never forget the time I witnessed an avocado being savagely hacked with a dull hatchet. This brutal act occurred down the street from me when I lived in Florida. Not only did the tree suffer immensely, the person wielding the hatchet worked way too hard for what was done. He turned a simple job into a difficult one, all because he didn’t have the right tool for the job. He’s lucky he didn’t hurt himself. The tree, on the other hand, did suffer with broken and torn limbs.
Pruning tools are designed to cut living wood, not lumber. Carpentry tools are for dead wood, but for pruning trees and shrubs, a new set of tools are needed. |
Sharp and clean tools are also important as they are more efficient and much safer. Plants appreciate it too as clean cuts heal faster and are less likely to become infected. It’s really difficult to sever branches dull pruners, and the branches end up squished, torn, and tattered. Healing becomes difficult, infection ensures and oftentimes, the damaged branch becomes infected and dies.
Protection and Convenience
Gloves protect your hands from blisters, thorns, splinters and accidental pruning of your fingers!
Gloves: To avoid callouses, splinters, thorns, to get a good grip and protect hands from sharp blades, gloves are an essential part of a tool kit. My calloused hands can attest to that. Leather and suede gloves protect from splinters, thorns, prickles and spines. Special protective gloves are designed just for chainsaws or a powered trimmers. Made of Kevlar, they are cut resistant and are anti-vibration. For those in the pruning business, they are an asset when working for long periods of time.
There are many types of gloves available to protect hands while pruning.
Blade Protection: Sheaths and holsters protect blades and make them safer to carry and transport. Sheathed hand pruners and pruning saws easily attach to a belt making them handy and they don’t get lost. It makes pruning jobs easier as the tools are easily accessible and are safer to grab.
Pruning saws are sharp so buy one with a scabbard to protect yourself from its sharp teeth.
Sharpen Tools: Dull tools are dangerous, are tiring to use and don’t cut cleanly. Sharpen tools yourself. There are many tools designed for the job and are usually available where pruning equipment is sold. The alternative is to go to a professional especially for serrated and chain saw blades.
Keeping it Clean: Dirty pruning tools spread diseases, that’s why it’s important to clean pruning tools after each plant. For diseased plants, disinfect pruners after each cut. The easiest way to do this is to mix a solution of water and a disinfectant like Lysol (isopropyl works too) in a spray bottle. Just spray as you go. This is such a simple but effective way to reduce diseases from being spread from plant to plant. Before putting the tools away for the day, clean off any grunge, disinfect them one more time, then spray with Pam or another vegetable oil.
Keeping it Clean: Dirty pruning tools spread diseases, that’s why it’s important to clean pruning tools after each plant. For diseased plants, disinfect pruners after each cut. The easiest way to do this is to mix a solution of water and a disinfectant like Lysol (isopropyl works too) in a spray bottle. Just spray as you go. This is such a simple but effective way to reduce diseases from being spread from plant to plant. Before putting the tools away for the day, clean off any grunge, disinfect them one more time, then spray with Pam or another vegetable oil.
Basics pruning tools are loppers, hand pruners and gloves.
Purchasing Pruning Tools
A selection of my pruning equipment.
Well-made sturdy, sharp, forged pruning tools are worth the money. They make a difficult job easier as they slice through branches with ease without straining your arms and hands. Cuts are clean so plants heal faster, and blades stay sharper for longer. Price does matter as you pay for quality. There’s no need to get the most expensive, but don’t go too cheap! Handle tools before purchasing them. Consider their weight and how they feel in your hands. They should feel comfortable, be balanced and be easy for you to use.
Hand Pruners (Secateurs)
Hand held secateurs are perfect for small spaces and stems.
Anvil pruners on the left, bypass pruners on the right.
My much used Felco bypass pruners in its holster, which is looped through a belt.
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Hand pruners are used for branches up to 1 inch in diameter. There are two types of secateurs to choose from: anvil and bypass. The blade of anvil pruners pushes through the stem slicing it off. Since they crush the stem in order to cut it they become dull quicker than bypass types. They are best used for dead growth since they damage live growth especially if they are dull.
Bypass pruners are more efficient as they don’t crush stems, they sever them like scissors. Instead of one cutting blade, they have two to make the cut. Stems aren’t squished and blades stay sharper longer. This is why most professionals select bypass pruners. Out of all the brands of hand pruners, Felco is the brand used by most professionals. Not only are they well made, replacement blades and springs are easily available. It’s convenient and saves money in the long run. It’s important that hand pruners have an efficient way to unlock and lock the blade. Inexpensive secateurs often don’t have good locking mechanisms. This makes them quite dangerous as they spring open when they should be closed. Alternately, some are difficult to open once locked, which is most annoying. While you are purchasing hand pruners, don’t forget to pick up a holster! |
Anvil pruners crush stems and tend to dull quickly.
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Bypass pruners slice stems, making a clean cut.
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Loppers
Loppers are used to cut larger stems, to extend your reach and to give more force when cutting.
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Loppers are a necessary pruning tool as they extend your reach and cut thicker branches than hand pruners; up to 2 inches in diameter. Their long handles make it easier to reach into tree canopies and into the base of shrubs. Handle lengths vary from a foot long up to 36 inches. Their cutting blades are either anvil or bypass and they share the same advantages and disadvantages.
Short and long handled loppers are available, depending on your needs.
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Pruning Saws
Pruning saws make fast work out of thick branches.
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Their curved blades allow to reach into small spaces and to cut from any angle.
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Use pruning saws when hand pruners and loppers are too small to do the job. They work efficiently when slicing through thick branches. Their slim and extremely sharp blades are perfect to slip between branches and into the base of shrubs. Their 12 -16 inch long blade blades are either straight or curved, and have pistol style handles. Razor sharp teeth cut on the pull stroke and slides back on the push. Some pruning saws have tri-cut blades, with triangular teeth that are sharp on all three sides.
Some pruning saws have replaceable blades, so consider that option when purchasing. Since pruning saws have seriously sharp blades, purchase one that comes with a scabbard (sheath) to protect yourself and the blade.
Folding saws are very convenient and compact. They resemble pocket knives as the blade folds into the handle. However, they are not as strong as the regular non-folding type, especially if used repeatedly and when used on hard and dead wood.
Some pruning saws have replaceable blades, so consider that option when purchasing. Since pruning saws have seriously sharp blades, purchase one that comes with a scabbard (sheath) to protect yourself and the blade.
Folding saws are very convenient and compact. They resemble pocket knives as the blade folds into the handle. However, they are not as strong as the regular non-folding type, especially if used repeatedly and when used on hard and dead wood.
A bow saw is designed to cut very large branches and trunks.
Pole Saws & Pole pruners
Pole saws are designed to reach high up in a trees canopy, without having to scale a ladder.
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Look for good quality pole pruners that come with saw and bypass pruning attachment.
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Pole pruners are long poles with a saw or bypass pruning blade attached at the end. They make it easier to reach high into a tree without using a ladder, climbing the tree or using a cherry picker.
Pole pruners have a rope that pulls on the blade to cut the stem. They are a bit tricky to use as its difficult to be accurate, it’s quite tiring and hard on the neck as you are always looking up. When selecting a pole pruner, consider its overall weight, where its balances and where the majority of the weight is located. If the weight is at the business end, it is really difficult to aim the tool and to control it. Purchase a good quality one as I've had some that were a waste of money.
Gas Powered Pole Saws
Although they are heavier than pole pruners, they are quick and the pruning job goes much faster. Be mindful of where the weight is located and how it's balanced. They can be heavy, awkward and quite cumbersome. The heaviest types are gas pole pruners. They are also noisier and more costly, but are powerful and are used by many professional arborists.
Pole pruners have a rope that pulls on the blade to cut the stem. They are a bit tricky to use as its difficult to be accurate, it’s quite tiring and hard on the neck as you are always looking up. When selecting a pole pruner, consider its overall weight, where its balances and where the majority of the weight is located. If the weight is at the business end, it is really difficult to aim the tool and to control it. Purchase a good quality one as I've had some that were a waste of money.
Gas Powered Pole Saws
Although they are heavier than pole pruners, they are quick and the pruning job goes much faster. Be mindful of where the weight is located and how it's balanced. They can be heavy, awkward and quite cumbersome. The heaviest types are gas pole pruners. They are also noisier and more costly, but are powerful and are used by many professional arborists.
Pole saws can also be gas powered or electric.
Electric Pole Saws
These types of pole saws are light, easy to operate, quiet and nearly maintenance free, but they do have a cord. The cord often gets in the way and limits the distance they can be used because you need to plug them into an electrical outlet. They are not as powerful as gas models but are better for the environment and aren’t cumbersome.
Cordless Pole Saws
Cordless pole saws use a rechargeable battery (Lithium-Ion) and they are getting better every year. Their runtime depends on the size of the battery pack so it’s a good idea to have more than one. They are generally lightweight but are slightly heavier than electric pole saws. They are easy to use, quieter than gas and there are no cords. If going cordless, consider buying other cordless garden tools, but make sure they all use the same batteries – and as previously mentioned have more than one battery pack.
These types of pole saws are light, easy to operate, quiet and nearly maintenance free, but they do have a cord. The cord often gets in the way and limits the distance they can be used because you need to plug them into an electrical outlet. They are not as powerful as gas models but are better for the environment and aren’t cumbersome.
Cordless Pole Saws
Cordless pole saws use a rechargeable battery (Lithium-Ion) and they are getting better every year. Their runtime depends on the size of the battery pack so it’s a good idea to have more than one. They are generally lightweight but are slightly heavier than electric pole saws. They are easy to use, quieter than gas and there are no cords. If going cordless, consider buying other cordless garden tools, but make sure they all use the same batteries – and as previously mentioned have more than one battery pack.
This electric pole power saw makes pruning branches much easier.
Chainsaws
Wear protective gear when using a chainsaw.
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This little lightweight electric chainsaw works well despite its size.
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Chainsaws are very dangerous and before operating one, it’s wise to go for some basic training. Check for local workshops and training courses in chainsaw safety in your area. Here are some suggestions of organizations that offer such courses.
Basic Chainsaw Operating Training is offered by BC Forestry:Gas and electric chainsaws are used to cut branches over 3 inches in diameter. Gas chainsaws are certainly more powerful, but they are louder, heavier, and need more maintenance than electric ones. Electric types are suitable for small jobs, but be careful not to sever the cord – it happens.
A basic rule when using chainsaws is never use the tip of the saw when cutting into anything as it will kick back at you. Kickbacks are the main cause of injuries, combined with lack of training and practice. When purchasing a chainsaw consider safety first. Look for safety features to reduce kickback with efficient chain and bar design as well as chain brakes. Another essential safety feature is protective scabbard over the bar and chain.
Good maintenance is also important when it comes to safety. Keep the chain sharp, and at the correct depth so the chainsaw is predictable and cuts smoothly without too much force. If the chain depth gauge is set too low, it will cut too deeply, making it difficult to control. This helps prevent kickback.
Protect your hands with a good pair of chainsaw gloves lined with Kevlar fiber. These gloves resist cuts and allow manual dexterity.
Basic Chainsaw Operating Training is offered by BC Forestry:Gas and electric chainsaws are used to cut branches over 3 inches in diameter. Gas chainsaws are certainly more powerful, but they are louder, heavier, and need more maintenance than electric ones. Electric types are suitable for small jobs, but be careful not to sever the cord – it happens.
A basic rule when using chainsaws is never use the tip of the saw when cutting into anything as it will kick back at you. Kickbacks are the main cause of injuries, combined with lack of training and practice. When purchasing a chainsaw consider safety first. Look for safety features to reduce kickback with efficient chain and bar design as well as chain brakes. Another essential safety feature is protective scabbard over the bar and chain.
Good maintenance is also important when it comes to safety. Keep the chain sharp, and at the correct depth so the chainsaw is predictable and cuts smoothly without too much force. If the chain depth gauge is set too low, it will cut too deeply, making it difficult to control. This helps prevent kickback.
Protect your hands with a good pair of chainsaw gloves lined with Kevlar fiber. These gloves resist cuts and allow manual dexterity.
Maintain chainsaws according to the manufacturer's instructions so they stay sharp and safe.
Hedge Shears/Trimmers
Powered hedge trimmers make light work of a keeping a hedge neat.
Hedge shears are designed to trim the ends of hedge plants, not to cut into wood. The two types of hedge shears are manual (hand shears) and powered.
Hand shears are like large scissors that make nice clean cuts and have been used since hedges were invented. Ones with straight blades that have a notch in the base make the cleanest cut and are easy to sharpen. Serrated blade hand shears have teeth or wavy blades. Their blades hold on to branches and ornamental grasses which makes it easier to use, however the cut is less clean than straight edged blades. Since their blades are serrated, they require professional sharpening.
Gasoline powered hedge trimmers make quick work of hedge trimming but it’s easy to make a huge mistake, ruining the hedge. Practicing and paying attention is key.
Two stroke gasoline hedge trimmers need oil and regular maintenance, however, they are powerful and are ideal for large, long hedges. Vibration is an issue especially when held aloft so consider buying some anti-vibration gloves. Weight and balance distribution is also critical. Do your research, check online reviews and keep safety your number one priority.
Electrical hedge trimmers are lighter, less expensive and quieter than gas powered ones, but the cord limits maneuverability and distance. Cutting the cord accidentally is also problematic. Cordless battery powered trimmers give the freedom of gas types, but running time is an issue; you'll need more than one battery pack. They are quite suitable for light work and touch up jobs, but do your research and check online for reviews.
Hand shears are like large scissors that make nice clean cuts and have been used since hedges were invented. Ones with straight blades that have a notch in the base make the cleanest cut and are easy to sharpen. Serrated blade hand shears have teeth or wavy blades. Their blades hold on to branches and ornamental grasses which makes it easier to use, however the cut is less clean than straight edged blades. Since their blades are serrated, they require professional sharpening.
Gasoline powered hedge trimmers make quick work of hedge trimming but it’s easy to make a huge mistake, ruining the hedge. Practicing and paying attention is key.
Two stroke gasoline hedge trimmers need oil and regular maintenance, however, they are powerful and are ideal for large, long hedges. Vibration is an issue especially when held aloft so consider buying some anti-vibration gloves. Weight and balance distribution is also critical. Do your research, check online reviews and keep safety your number one priority.
Electrical hedge trimmers are lighter, less expensive and quieter than gas powered ones, but the cord limits maneuverability and distance. Cutting the cord accidentally is also problematic. Cordless battery powered trimmers give the freedom of gas types, but running time is an issue; you'll need more than one battery pack. They are quite suitable for light work and touch up jobs, but do your research and check online for reviews.
Electric hedge trimmers are much lighter than gas powered ones.
Summary
Using the right tool for the job makes light work of difficult tasks. Spend the extra time to select what is suitable for you. Purchasing quality tools is generally more expensive, but worth it in the long run. Do your research before you buy and keep safety your priority.