All About Pruners

The gardener's best friend

A staple of every gardener, pruners (or pruning shears) come in many shapes and sizes, each specialized for cutting a particular type of plant.  Pruning plants, shrubs, bushes, and trees correctly ensures an attractive appearance, healthy growth, and manageable placement.  Versatile and infinitely useful, pruners allow every gardener, from novice to virtuoso, to gently sculpt the growth of his or her beloved flora.

To prune a plant means to shape it in order to maintain its health or to improve the quality of its fruit or foliage. To maintain the size of a plant, it is best to prune them annually, rather than having to cut them back severely after they have overgrown their designated plot. Proper pruning should start when you plant a shrub or tree and should be a regular part of maintaining a landscape. Always prune to retain the natural shape of the plant, giving it the best opportunity to thrive.

A hand pruner consists of two blades attached to handles connected at a central, spring-loaded joint mechanism.  The handles may be curved or straight.  Many national retailers produce their own brands of pruners, as do many specialty manufacturers, such as Felco, Bahco, Corona, Silky, and Berger.  Features to look for include ergonomic handles, replaceable blades, and rust resistant treatments.  Some hand pruners include a special design that lets the blades grip a stem before cutting, ideal for hard to reach blooms.  Long-reach pruners come with longer handles for higher branches.

Many looks, same tool

There are basically three types of hand pruners: bypass, anvil and ratchet. Bypass pruners are probably the most popular. They make a nice clean cut using two curved blades that bypass each other in the same manner as a pair of scissors. One blade is sharpened on the outside edge and it slips by a thicker unsharpened blade.  In contrast, anvil pruners have a single straight cutting blade that closes down on a flat edge or anvil.

Powered pruners, either electrical or gas powered, carve up bushes and shrubs into perfect geometric shapes.  Although they may prove too powerful for delicate bushes and plants, if wielded judiciously, electric pruners can give gardens a professional and manicured look.  Care must be taken in their use, since they can give rise to unhealthy shapes that prevent the natural growth of the plant.

Maintenance

Such a hard-working tool deserves periodic T.L.C., including cleaning, sharpening and lubrication:

To properly clean pruners, the blades must be taken apart.  Although potentially daunting to the novice, only a few screws must be removed to dissemble the tool.  Once the halves have been successfully separated, collected dirt, grime, and plant matter can be removed from beneath the blade.  Over time, the collection of this detritus reduces the efficacy of the blade, preventing a quick, snappy cut.  A scouring pad and soapy water can remove most of this material from the disassembled pruner.  Refer to a diagram, if necessary, to reassemble.

A whetstone can effectively sharpen the blades of a pruner, although many prefer professional sharpening services.  Additionally, contraptions on the market feature guides and holders that keep the stone at a perfect angle, making home sharpening more simple.

A smooth cut requires lubrication at the joint.  Any industrial lubricant will suffice.  Spray directly on the pruner's central joint and squeeze the handles a few times to assure proper dispersal.

Depending on how much you use your pruners, the spring tends to weaken over the course of a few years. If your spring has lost its tension, it should be replaced. New springs are generally available from the manufacturer of your pruners or from your local garden supply retailer. 

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