How to Choose the Right Pruning Tool for Your Garden

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Pruning is essential for the health of a garden but do you know the best tools for pruning trees, plants, and shrubs? How about the easiest way to cut grasses, perennials, roots, and vines? I’ll show you how to pick the right tool for the job so you can snip, cut, slash, prune, lop, and saw your garden into shape. While no one tool can do it all efficiently, you can definitely narrow down your picks to a few that will do a majority of cutting jobs in your garden.

If you would like a simplified way to know when to prune, see When to Prune and Deadhead Your Garden and My Best / Simplest Pruning Tips.

I may receive a commission if you purchase something mentioned in a link on this post for shopping sites. Other links may go to websites where I have been paid to write a blog or article. See the entire disclosure here.

The Right Pruning Tool for the Job

If you’ve ever struggled with the wrong pruning tool, you know what it’s like. Way too much time is spent wrestling with the plant, either crushing or tearing until the branch comes free, and we end up with aching arms and damaged plants. Guilty as charged! 

With the right tool, you should be able to get a nice, crisp cuts and clean slices—easily and readily— without any collateral damage to the plants or you!

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I’m using Fiskars tools as the examples in this post. I’m a long-time fan of their products and, to prepare this post, I contacted Fiskars and requested sample tools to test.

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Gardening on a Budget

If you’ve been reading Empress of Dirt for a while, you know I’m a true frugalista. While our friends run up huge credit card debt to indulge in expensive trips, cars, and riff-raff, we’re the fiscally-conservative ones, happy to live within our means. It may seem dull to others, but to us, the peace of mind is well worth it in such a tumultuous world.

Yes, we went through the flat-broke college and newlywed days (How I created my first dream garden on $100 per year), but, once you’re beyond living pay-cheque-to-pay-cheque, the realization comes that it is very wise indeed to invest in quality items you intend to use for years to come.

Workshop and garden tools are definitely on this list. Quality pays for itself in the long run.

Cheap tools are not just frustrating to use (and sometimes dangerous or harmful), but wasteful as well. I can buy one really good quality shovel that will outlast me, or cheaper new ones every few years, adding up to more far more than the cost of the good one. So, if you can, forgo that dollar store pruner and opt for something that will serve you for many years.

Which Pruners Do I Need?

Pruning Dictionary
Here’s a quick primer in speaking Prunish (I just made that up).

  • Pruners are one-handed cutting tools intended for smaller cuts.
  • Loppers require two hands to operate them and work on medium size cuts.
  • Pruning saws are one-handed (like workshop saws) and intended for larger cuts.

You might also notice the words anvil, bypass, and ratchet mentioned.

  • Anvil = a single cutting blade that closes down on a flat surface (the anvil).
  • Bypass = blades that do just that: bypass each other. There’s usually one sharp blade and one dull one. These are often stronger than anvil pruners.
  • Ratchet = amped-up anvil pruners, adding some extra leverage to assist your hands. These are often the strongest and most expensive pruners.

Choosing Pruners

There is not a single type of pruner to fit all situations. And, as mentioned at the start, if you try to make one tool work for all cuts, you will injure both the plant/tree, the tool, and perhaps yourself (by forcing the tool to do things it’s not made to do).
Pruning is essential for the health of a garden but do you know the best tools for pruning trees, plants, and shrubs? How about the easiest way to cut grasses, perennials, roots, and vines? I’ll show you how to pick the right tool for the job so you can snip, cut, slash, prune, lop, and saw your garden into shape.
If you’re just needing a pruner for a small one-time job, try to borrow one. If you’re needing pruners for ongoing garden maintenance, you’ll probably only need a few different ones to keep everything pruned, primped, and healthy.

Questions to Answer
1. What are you cutting? Flowers? Grasses? Vines? Shrubs? Branches? 
2. How big are the largest branches (in diameter)? Choose pruners, loppers, and pruning saws based on this cutting measurement.
3. How tough is it to cut? Pruners and loppers are usually enough, but really tough jobs may require ratchet pruners, or saws.
4. Can you reach it from the ground or is it up in a tree? Never prune anything overhead! If you need help reaching, find the right tool (or person) for the job.
5. Do you have any strength or mobility issues with your hands or arms (arthritis, carpel tunnel, etc.)? If so, look for lighter weight tools with soft grip handles (where available).

Features to Look For

  • Feels good in your hands, designed to reduce blistering, not too heavy (doesn’t strain lower arms).
  • Right cutting capacity – be sure the maximum cutting size is right for the job.
  • No-stick blades.
  • Lock for blades when not in use.
  • Warranty against defects.

Pick Your Pruner Based on the Job

Stems and Small Branches

Fiskars powergear2 pruner | Learn which pruners you need in your garden. The right tool makes the job easy.

Choose pruners for branches up to ¾” in diameter.

Fiskars extendable pruner saw

Branches too high to reach? The extendable pruner/saw extends from 7 to 16-feet long.

Thick and High Branches

Fiskars powergear2 lopper | Learn which pruners you need in your garden. The right tool makes the job easy.

Choose loppers by branch size.
The longer the loppers, the larger the cut size.

Need to trim high-up branches? This extendable pruner/saw reaches 16 feet.

Hedges and Shrubs

Fiskars hedge shear | Learn which pruners you need in your garden. The right tool makes the job easy.

Choose hedge shears.
Consider the weight of the tool for comfort, but also the reach.

Flowers, Plants, and Herbs

Fiskars micro pruner | Learn which pruners you need in your garden. The right tool makes the job easy.

If you have a kitchen garden and cut herbs for dinner each night (or do other fine cutting), fine small snips are great.

Trimming Around Flower Beds, Trees, Sidewalks

Fiskars grass shear | Learn which pruners you need in your garden. The right tool makes the job easy.

Good trimming in a garden is a game changer! I love crisp edges around the garden beds. It gives the garden a really polished look.
I used to use a serrated kitchen knife (which works quite well).

More options:

  • Grass Shear (pick according to size you want). Grass has a tendency to stick to blades and get jammed. Look for no-stick coating on blades.
  • Billhook Saw works great for digging in and cutting up deep roots including overgrown grass (that has crept into the garden beds).

Vines, Shoots, Suckers, Ornamental Grasses, Old Perennial Growth

Fiskars billhook saw | Learn which pruners you need in your garden. The right tool makes the job easy.

When I’m clearing up all the old perennial growth (flowers and grasses) in the spring, I like a machete-like cutting tool.

Billhooks are an excellent option. It’s a one-handed tool making it easy to grab the plants, chop them down, and move on. Much faster than using two-handed shears.

  • Billhook Saw – This has a two-sided blade (slices and saws) so it’s super handy for any quick cuts like chopping off shoots and suckers and dividing perennials.

Twine, Wire, Beer Bottle Caps, Garden Art Making

Fiskars cuts+more scissors | Learn which pruners you need in your garden. The right tool makes the job easy.

I use scissors all the time in the garden. I finally found some that are all-purpose.

  • Cuts + More Titanium All Purpose Scissors– cuts paper, plastic, twine, light rope, and wire. Also has pointed awl tips and bottle opener. You can take it apart and use the blades as knives. The whole unit is dishwasher safe.

Useful? Share it!
If you are now fluent in Prunish, please share the good news!

~Melissa the Empress of Dirt ♛

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Comments

  4. These Fiskar pruners look like a great garden tool, and the brand is well known to sewers as a quality product. Would love to have a pair.

    Reply

  7. I have a pair of Fiskars pruners that I love so much my daughter confiscated them and now I need a new pair! My roses need some deadheading and I just can’t bear to use utility scissors.

    Reply

  9. Fiskars makes an excellent selection of pruners. I, foolishly, allowed my pruners (another brand) to rust. I’d love to start over with some new Fiskars ones!

    Reply

  10. I have used Fiskars products for many years. Dulled a few but never worn out any of them! A good sharpening and away we go! Would love a shiny new pair! If I am not chosen, may the winner enjoy their Fiskars for many years.

    Reply

  11. Fiskers is always my most reliable tool for any cutting.. paper, fabric, metal,… I have to admit, I haven’t tried their yard tools. Hope I can soon!
    Thanks for the opportunity.

    Reply

  12. I’m a big Fiskars fan, both in the garden and in my studio! I like the great ergonomic engineering in their products. Thank you for the great article on pruning, it clarified several things for me.

    Reply

  13. I only use Fiskars pruners and snips. They are comfortable in my hands and do what they are supposed to with more ease. I can always use more!

    Reply

  14. Fiskars make these pruners. I have used Fiskars tools and they are great quality. I love to garden and when I am working in my gardens the hours fly by.

    Reply

  15. Fiskars pruners are really good quality and last a long time. I’ve used them before in my garden.

    Reply

  17. I am wearing out my cheap pruners and it would be a such a treat to win Fiskars pruners. I am over 70 years old lady gardener and more I garden more I realize how important proper garden tools are.. I started active gardening at the time of my retirement after we moved into a little house with a large lot, but no garden. Since then, I worked very hard and thanks to Internet and website like yours, I created a beautiful garden. I would be delighted to welcome you here, (just a car ride from Toronto) and to show you and to your subscribers that they are never too old to start active gardening.

    Reply

  18. I too love Fiskars pruners and scissors!!! I used a lot of Fiskars products both in my garden and my kitchen!!!

    Reply

  19. Lovel my Fiskars. My drawers in my sewing table have an assortment of Fiskars from Rotary cutters to embroidery snips. I would love some pruners for my garden bin as well. I spend the Spring and Summer in the Garden, so need some Fiskar Love for me there.

    Reply

  22. I would love to win the Fiskars pruners . I’ve loved Fiskars for quality when I used their scissors in sewing projects. It would be great to replace my dollar-store pruners with this excellent brand.

    Reply

  23. Fiskars are great tools. I’d love to have some of their pruners. I have a pruners with me whenever I go into the garden. Always something needs a quick touch up.

    Reply

  25. Love love love Fiskars. My passion in recent years are rose bushes,it would be awesome to win a pair to help with the pruning.

    Reply

  26. Love love love the Fiskars brand. I own their scissors, they are the best. My passion in recent years are rose bushes and would love a pair to help in pruning.

    Reply

  27. The pruners are made by the garden tools company, Fiskars. I own other gardening tools that need to be replaced because of years of heavy usage, so I am slowly replacing them. I could really use a pair of these Fiskars pruners!

    Reply

  28. Fiskars makes great scissors! I am sure their garden pruners are super! I would love to win one. Thanks for the giveaway!

    Reply

  29. I need a pair of Fiskar pruners. What I’m using now barely cuts and I am battling voracious English ivy that is trying to take over my garden.

    Reply

  30. I have one pair of Fiskar’s but felt like a kid in a candy store when I saw how many different kinds are available. Yes please!!!!!!

    Reply

  31. I have arthritis and would love a pair of better Fiskar pruners! I have their herbal shears and love them!

    Reply

  33. I have a very old pair of Fiskers and they are so well used that I would love a new pair. Please enter me in the draw.

    Reply

  34. Fiskars is the brand of the clippers in the giveaway. I have owned several different sizes of these and love them all. This is the size that I go through the most!

    Reply

  35. Fiskars brand is all I have. Seems the guys like them too. They walk away with them regularly. Then I have to buy more because they never seem to return for some reason. Not sure what they use them for.

    Reply

  36. I would love to win a pair of Fiskars pruners! My old pair is getting to be in pretty bad shape, and I can’t wait to get outside and start pruning my spireas and hydrangeas.

    Reply

  37. Wow! I have used Fiskars scissors in my sewing for decades and never knew Fiskars made gardening pruners!!! Thank you for the detailed information about the different types. Wealth of knowledge.
    Thanks for the chance to win a pair of Fiskars pruners. I really need some—my neighbor’s trees are encroaching on my forsythias.

    Reply

  38. Fiskars pruners: Different pruners for different uses, I learned something.

    Southern gardener here enjoying a busy spring.

    Reply

  40. I would LOVE to have a really good pair of various pruners,especially loppers and smaller hand held ones. Seems like I go through them so fast.

    Reply

  47. I lost my through cut pruners and , would love to win a set, I use Fiskar scissors and tools regularly , hope i win!!

    Reply

  48. I would love to win a set of Fiskars pruners!
    I would also love to see a post on how you sharpen your pruners.

    Reply

    • I love Fiskars pruners and mine are getting some age on them! Those telescoping handles for trimming trees are extra nifty! Put my name in the hat!!

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