As gardeners, we all need the best pair of shears available. Whether you are a hobbyist trimming the flowers in your backyard or a landscape designer beautifully sculpting the hedges and boxwoods located in a vast estate, this cannot be achieved if you do not have the right tool.
Professionals and amateurs alike need something comfortable to work with and at the same time also sharp, durable, and efficient enough to get the job done with ease.
This can only be made possible by purchasing the best pruning shears. But with so many products available, making a decision becomes difficult.
However, by reviewing this article, you get to discover the best products on offer and also the buying guide that should be considered before making a buying decision. Come along as we find out together the ins and outs of the best pruning shears.
BEST CHOICE
Gardening Power Drive Ratchet Anvil Hand
Best Pruning Shears in Our Rating
- Convenient blade size for fast bush cutting
- The reliable clamp protecting from opening of a blade
- Comfortable handle shape suitable for women
- Manufacturer’s Warranty
Selecting the Best Pruning Shears
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Editor’s Pick  |
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Editor’s Pick  |
| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
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| View On Amazon →Read Our Review |
After much consultation with our team of experts and considering all other factors, we bring to you the best ten pruning shears available on the market. They include:
1. Gardening Power Drive Ratchet Anvil Hand Pruning Shears: Most Compact Pruning Shears
Imagine having shears whose ratcheting mechanism is designed to expand the power of your hands by five times the average amount. This means that you don’t have to make any efforts at all, the pruning shears do it all for you. Also, it slices through thicker branches than the regular pruners effortlessly.
It is easy on the hands, yet suitable for heavy-duty jobs, a feature made possible by the extra power of the ratchet action. Ideally, anvil pruner features only one sharp blade, which is the top blade and then an anvil blade found at the bottom. This way, as you slice through a branch, the ratcheting action snaps and moves on to the next branch, thereby providing an increase in pressure as you cut through.
To ensure the quality of the product, it was heat treated and then made hard with carbon steel, which is known to be extra strong. This also ensures it is durable and requires minimal sharpening. Furthermore, they are coated with non-stick Teflon, which resists sticky materials such as sap.
It is ideal for those who frequently engage in pruning as it is designed to reduce wrist strain and requires minimal pressure to cut through, a feature that makes pruning not just enjoyable but fun, too. You may also consider this pair of shears if you have arthritis or have small hands.
- It is affordable
- It has a 100% money-back guarantee and a lifetime warranty
- The handle is suitable for people with small hands or arthritis
- It is sturdy and efficient
- Not ideal for those with big hands
2. Corona BP 3180D Forged Classic Bypass Pruner: Most Efficient Pruning Shears
From one of the leading manufacturers of garden tools comes the Corona BP 3180D Forged Classic Bypass Pruner. With this pruner, you can easily cut up to 1-inch diameter in an effortless manner.
To ensure its sturdiness, not only is it heat treated but is also made with forged steel alloy blade and is suitable for professional gardeners.
While cutting you need not stop work to clean sap from the blade as it has a sap groove that keeps the blade from sticking and clogging the system.
When the blade gets dull (this happens after a long time use), you can re-sharpen it to retain its hardness and strength. It has a slant-ground, narrow profile hook used for clean, precision cuts. Also, it is designed to have wire cutting notch, which can be closed when not in use as this prevents accidents.
- It makes cutting easy
- Saps groove keep the blade from sticking
- Has wire cutting notch for safety
- It is efficient
- It has a limited warranty
- Has to be re-sharpened from time to time
3. Fiskars 91095935J Steel Bypass Pruning Shears: Pruning Shears With The Sharpest Blade
This is a high model gardening tool that is really affordable and also comes in Anvil style to give you effortless cut. The blade which is constructed with hardened precision ground steel is rich in quality and performs excellently well. The blade also maintains its sharpness for a long time, an attribute that makes it ideal for cutting off light branches as well as stems.
It is resistant to corrosion, and the low friction coating also prevents the blade from sticking to sap while cutting. Besides, it has an easy-open blade that ensures the safety of the pruner mainly while the tool is transported or stored.
The handle is yet another area that impressed us. It is made of top quality material and is coated with rubber to ensure ease of use. With its non-slip grip, you are secured knowing it won’t fall off and hurt you. Available at an affordable price, it has a lifetime warranty and is guaranteed to serve your needs.
- Has a lifetime warranty
- It is affordable
- Has a comfortable handle
- The blades are sharp
- Sometimes difficult to open
- The blade may corrode after a while
- Not so efficient
4. Gonicc 8” Professional Premium Titanium Bypass Pruning Shears: Most Ergonomic Pruning Shears
This pruning shears, which is available in Anvil style, is made for precision cutting of stems and woods. It cuts up to 3/4” diameter size of branches although this depends on the species of tree being cut. It is made of top quality titanium steel blade and will not rust or corrode.
It should be noted that the blade will need to be maintained. This, however, should not deter you from purchasing as it has an ultra-fine polishing technology which boosts the durability of the shears.
It features sap grooves which prevent the blade from becoming sticky, thereby enabling it to stay always clean.
Also, it has an ergonomic handle with a non-slip mechanism. This is not all; the lightweight handle has an easy and comfortable grip. The handle is also made of aluminum and coated with a layer of PVC.
- It is strong, sharp and comfortable
- Comes at a fair price
- Has a lifetime warranty
- Suitable for stems and large gardens
- The efficiency of the blade is not so ideal
5. Garden Elite Razor Sharp Bypass Pruning Shears: Best Design
These pruning shears are designed on Japanese steel blades. The blades are layered with Teflon to give it smooth, precision cuts of up to 1diameter stems and branches. The quality is not in doubt as they are made of high-quality materials and come with a great design.
The blades are forged with carbon steel to ensure its sturdiness and durability and also have a handle designed with aluminum; a trait that makes it ergonomic. The non-slip rubber gives it a firm grip and prevents it from slipping off while you are cutting.
The non-stick Teflon does not just promote clean cuts; it also keeps the shears from gumming up and makes it easier to wipe after use. To prevent rust and corrosion for a very long time, the blades are coated with polytetrafluoroethylene.
It has a sleek all-metal design with the only set back being that it may be a bit difficult to locate among other garden tools as there are no bright colors to recognize them by quickly. In light of its many superb features, this is hardly a complaint worthy of note.
It is a versatile pair of shears; the package comes with an extra blade and spring in case it needs to be replaced. To make it easy for all kinds of gardeners, it comes with a free eBook on garden tips for professional gardeners and amateurs alike and also has excellent customer service.
- Has a hard and sharp non-sticky blade
- Lifetime warranty
- Has an ergonomic rubber grip
- Comes with an extra spring, blade, and an eBook
- The blade gets dull fast
- It is somewhat expensive
- The locking mechanism may be misaligned or stiff
6. Fiskars 399211-1001 6” Micro-Tip Pruner: Best Value Product
With this, trimming, deadheading and shaping of plants are so much easier. It has a spring action found in between both handles that makes it easy to open and close the blade with ease, thereby reducing hand fatigue.
With its non-stick coating, jamming of the blade, as well as accumulation of sticky resins and saps are prevented.
It is fully hardened and has a precision-ground stainless steel blade which remains sharp even when used for heavy-duty.
Due to its ease of use and non-sticky soft-grip, it earned the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease of Use Commendation. It also comes with a blade cover to help protect the blades during storage. It is affordable, durable, sharp, and sturdy.
- The blades don’t stick
- It is ideal for deadheading, trimming and shaping of flowers
- It is easy to use
- Great precision cuts
- The springs only last for a season
- Ideal for only small garden tasks
7. Felco F-2 Classic Manual Hand Pruner: Most Lightweight Pruning Shears
This is an Anvil pruning shear which has a sap groove to prevent the blades from sticking by preventing saps and other sticky materials from attaching to the blade. This blade, which is made of top quality hardened steel, has scissors-like shape and is useful in trimming of stems and branches.
This model is an upgrade of the previous models and is constructed with quality materials to ensure the pruner functions effectively. Also, if maintained properly, the blade will not corrode or rust. This hand pruner has a blade with a wire-cutting notch that ensures optimum performance.
And then there’s the handle, too. It is lightweight and is layered with rubber; it also has a shock absorber. These characteristics make it comfortable to handle and ease hand fatigue while working.
It can be used to get to places that seem out of reach without tearing the leaves and is ideal for light application. It also has a lifetime warranty; all of these qualities ensure you enjoy its use.
- It has a lightweight handle
- Made of a high-quality blade
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- The sap groove prevents the blades from getting sticky
- It is rather costly
8. Okatsune 103 Bypass Pruners: Most Flexible Pruning Shears
With a length of 200mm, the model is 20mm bigger than the 101 model and 10mm smaller than the 104 models. Its blades are razor sharp and are forged from Japanese steel, (the same steel that is used in producing the Katana sword known with the Samurai). Therefore, you are assured of a blade that cuts through fruit trees, creepers, roses, and shrubs effortlessly (up to 25mm).
The blade is ultra-sharp and always gives clean, precise cuts. Its simple design is another appealing feature of this product as this gives it an ease of use. It is sturdy but lightweight at the same time.
Since it’s forged from the most beautiful Japanese steel, the hardness of the blade in conjunction with a special kind of flexibility gives the cutting blade alignment with the counter blade even after being used multiple times.
Don’t worry; the blade has been grounded in two angles. Hence it will smoothly cut through shrubs and woods without doing the plant any damage. As a result of the unique shape of the hollow ground blade, the sap flows away from the blade, leaving the blade intact.
It has a v-shaped spring which ensures that the cutting load is evenly spread across the length of the spring thereby guaranteeing a smooth close of the pruning shears. The shears also have a locking system which can be operated single-handedly.
- The blade is ultra-sharp
- It is sturdy and durable
- Made from high-quality material
- It gives smooth, precise cuts
- It is a bit expensive
- The springs don’t seem to last a long time
9. FELCO F-6 Classic Pruner: Child Friendly Pruning Shears
This is a well-designed bypass pruner that is ideal for light gardening such as the pruning of grapevines, shrubs, flowers, and young trees. It is made to suit those with small hands as it’s lightweight, comfortable yet sturdy and is every bit as efficient and powerful as other Felco pruners.
It has an anvil blade that is screw mounted to enable easy replacement, the cutting and anvil blades of this pruner are not riveted (i.e., they are not bonded or prevented from moving); with a length of about 7-1/4”, it can penetrate tight corners for more detailed work while the short blade enables it to cut the stems of branches.
The handles are made of aluminum while the blades are constructed with high quality hardened steel and feature a cutting capacity up to 0.8 inches.
It offers a lifetime warranty on purchase and is rust-resistant; this does not mean it should be left lying around carelessly. Once done with use, clean properly and store away in a cool, dry place. With its petite design, it can also fit into the hands of a child, so now you can have fun gardening and sharing your experience with the next generation.
- The cutting and anvil blades are not immobilized
- It is lightweight yet sturdy
- Has a lifetime warranty
- The blade is made of high-quality material
- The blades stick at times
- Not ideal for those with big hands
- Blade requires constant cleaning and maintenance
10. ARS HP-VS8Z Signature Heavy Duty Pruner: Best Pick for Professional Use
This model offers a variety of features ideal for professional use by gardeners and horticulturists. It has a locking latch that only requires a simple squeeze of the handle to release it; this enables a single-handed operation to be carried out.
The pruner itself is made of thick and high-quality cast aluminum, the handle is made non-slippery and is coated with smooth plastic to enable users to have a comfortable grip and also ensure the pruner lasts long. They weigh next to nothing and are balanced enough to be used daily with minimal hand fatigue and strain.
This is not all; the blades are offset at an angle that ensures the natural hand strength is maintained. The blades are chrome plated to give it a more exceptional sturdiness as well as sap resistance; these blades can also be re-sharpened or replaced when they get dull and were made to suit those with smaller hands.
- Features latch lock mechanism for single-handed operation
- Blades are made of hard chrome for sturdiness and sap resistance
- Springs are made of high-quality material for increased durability
- The blades are replaceable and can be re-sharpened
- The bypass blades are offset to enable clean cut
- Not ideal for those with big hands
- It is a bit on the costly side
Best Pruning Shears – Buying Guide
It’s not enough to purchase just any pruning shears that catches your fancy. There’s more than meets the eyes when it comes to getting the best. Here, we have summarized the factors to be considered when buying a pruning shear. They include:
Comfort
The shears to be purchased should be the ones that are comfortable when held; they should not be too big or small and should be able to manage the strength of your hands. Also, consider the opening width of the shears to reduce hand fatigue and make sure they have handles that will not cut into your skin when you come across tough branches.
Blade
This is an essential part of pruning shears. All pruning shears come with very sharp blades when purchased, the question, however, is, do they remain sharp?
The higher the quality of shears, the more robust and sharp the blade is, and this could be the deciding factor if you are yet to decide between value and quality.
A high-quality blade is resistant to corrosion and rust. Also, it’s best to go for blades with non-stick coating as they prevent saps and other sticky fluids from sticking to the blades and clogging the system.
With a non-stick blade, the juice will instead glide off leaving your blade clean. It’s best to purchase shears with high tempered carbon or carbon steel as they are the strongest and the most durable.
Safety lock
Shears if not correctly handled and stored can cause home accidents. Hence, it is essential to take precautions, especially if you have children around. Therefore, look out for shears with finger-saving lock as this ensures there’s minimal or no damage to you and the shears.
Adjustment
It’s essential to look out for this feature while buying a pruning shear as it allows you to have unlimited control over the shrubs and enable precision cuts.
There are some pruners with dual adjustable mechanisms to switch the initial position and the blade tension as well. This is even more important if you are going to be dealing with both big and small branches, it saves you the money that would have been used to purchase another pruning shears as adjustable pruners effortlessly tackle shrubs of varying thickness.
Cutting Mechanism
Most pruning shears have evolved from the laborious models of years before. The high-quality ones now make pruning more comfortable and fun all day long.
Pruning shears give you an ease of movement through your garden with speed never seen before, and this is made possible because it uses gears not just to obtain but maintain greater leverage over your shrubs and branches.
While pruning, you may or may not need the leverage, but this depends on how you intend to use the shears and how often you plan to prune your plants since the new nubs will be softer and easier to shear.
Size/Weight
This is similar to comfort but still worthy of mention. While purchasing pruning shears, you should go for the ones that are lightweight so you can lift them as high up as you need to go without feeling as though you are carrying a brick.
Using heavy shears can affect your concentration, and this poses a safety concern. It can also prevent productivity as you may not get the work done on time and mostly, it can make you hate pruning all together, and we don’t want that to happen.
Hence, it’s best to purchase cutting shears, which suit your strength. Pruners made with aluminum or fiberglass are lightweight unlike those made of wood, which are heavy.
Ease of use
No one wants to go through a hard, difficult time while pruning, we want things to be as easy as can be. To make this a reality, purchase pruners with shock absorbers. While purchasing online, it may be challenging to determine the one with the shock-absorbing mechanism, but by going through the reviews you can make the right choice.
Conclusion
Having well-manicured and trimmed shrubs and garden is no magic at all, it only takes the best pruning shears to make it happen. With all the products reviewed in this article, making a choice shouldn’t be all that difficult anymore.
So, go ahead and make a choice, and keep your garden looking like a million bucks. It’s sure to attract the admiration of neighbors and visitors.
