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| Photo Credit: Bonnie L. Appleton |
| Ergonomic features make these hand pruners more pleasurable to use. |
When it comes down to it, pruning is an important task in just about every garden. Through the selective removal of specific plant parts, you work to make your plants healthier and more attractive, as well as your whole garden safer. Because pruning wounds your plant, it’s important to make sure you’ve got a proper reason for cutting into it, as well as the proper tools to do so.
We generally select which pruner to use by looking at the diameter of the branch or stem we need to cut. Branches having up to a ¾-inch diameter can be cut with hand pruners, and there are two types available: Bypass pruners have sharp, curved, scissors-type blades that overlap each other. Anvil pruners have straight upper blades that cut against flat, lower plates. Although anvil pruners are usually cheaper than bypass ones, they have some drawbacks. First, anvil pruners tend to crush the stems as they cut. Second, the width of the anvil can prevent you from reaching in to get a close cut on narrow-angled stems. This is why bypass pruners are generally the better choice. | Add Photo to Journal |  | | Photo Credit: Bonnie L. Appleton | | Hand pruners and loppers with ratchet mechanisms are especially helpful for people with limited hand strength. |
With branches measuring from ¾ inch in diameter up to 1 ¾ inches, use lopping shears. Loppers have long handles that give you extra reach and better cutting leverage. Look for loppers with shock-absorbing bumpers between the blades (designed to reduce arm fatigue). And just like with hand pruners, bypass blades are the preferred type to have.
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| Warnings |
- Disinfect your pruning tool between plants – and between cuts on the same plant if a disease is present. Good disinfectants to use include Lysol, Listerine (full-strength) or a 70-99 percent rubbing alcohol. Do NOT use Pine-Sol® or bleach because these chemicals are highly corrosive to metal.
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| Facts |
- While shoots and branches are main pruning targets, roots, flower buds, fruits and seedpods can also be trimmed off.
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| Tips |
- High-quality tools may be more expensive, but they’ll last longer and make pruning more pleasurable. Sharpen blades regularly and dry and oil them after each use. Whenever possible, use ergonomic tools, which are a lighter weight, mold to your hands, have soft plastic grips and are made for both right and left hands.
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| Faqs |
- Q: If my hand strength is limited, what’s the best way to prune?
A: Use hand pruners with a ratchet mechanism that allows you, with limited force, to make sequential cuts until you’ve cut all the way through a branch. Hand pruners and loppers are both available in ratchet versions.
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| Resources |
- If you have a pruning job that’s beyond your capabilities, hire a certified arborist to do it for you. To find one in your area, visit the International Society of Arboriculture’s Website.
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