Home Page > Yardener's Toolshed of Products > Hand Tools > Hand Tools For Pruning > Hand Pruning Shears

Hand Pruning Shears

Handles vary in style, materials and construction according to the type of tool. Both bypass and anvil pruners should have handles covered with molded vinyl for comfort and gripping ease. A return spring should open the blade after each cut and a locking device at the rear of the blade mechanism is preferable to one at the rear of the handles which can cause blisters. The shears should open and close smoothly, without resistance, but they should not be loose.

While sometimes difficult to find, hand pruners for left handed folks make their work a bit more comfortable. Be sure the pruner feels comfortable in terms of the size of your hand. Persons with smaller hands need to be sure they don’t buy a pruner that is tool large causing them to “choke up” on the handles which is very tiring and uncomfortable.Hand pruners come in two types: bypass and anvil. Most yardeners find it handy to have one pair of each design.

The products shown here give you a good idea of the range of options you might consider in buying what is in fact one of the more important hand tools in the yardeners tool shed.

With technology improving on the strength of new tool materials, price is no longer an indicator of the best choice for you. Professionals pruning grape orchards everyt day have a need for a very different tool than do we yardeners who may prune something once or twice a year. At the same time it is clear, buying the cheapest hand pruner at Home Depot or Leow's will lead nowhere but to frustration.

Bypass hand pruners

Bypass hand pruners use a scissors action and are designed to cut green or fresh wood. The cutting blade is tapered and thin making these effective in narrow spots among limbs. The top blade passes against the hooked lower blade that catches and holds the branch while the cutting blade comes down on it. Bypass pruners give a smooth, accurate cut close to the main trunk of the plant, cutting branches up to 1/2 to 3/4 inch thick.

Bahco Ergo Bypass Pruner PX-M2

by Bahco

Professional grade ergonomic pruner ideal for all pruning work in the home or professional garden
Medium-sized handles designed especially for medium-sized hands
Special angled head design reduces wrist and arm strain; upper handle with soft grip cover for added comfort
Medium-sized blades with Xylan coating cut branches up to 3/4 inch thick; fiberglass-reinforced plastic handles

The Bahco ergonomic pruner is a versatile, professional grade tool ideal for all pruning work in the home or professional garden. This pruner comes with medium-sized handles designed especially for medium-sized hands. The durable, medium-sized blades are coated with Xylan to prevent rust and reduce friction and are able to cut stems and branches up to 3/4-inch thick. The special angled head design reduces wrist and arm strain; the handles are made from fiberglass-reinforced plastic, with an upper soft grip handle cover for increased comfort and optimum performance.

Another advantage of this tool is that virtually every part is available on Amazon.com; key words "bahco prunters"

These bypass shears by Fiskars are ideal yardener-type pruners.

Product Features

Teflon-coated, high carbon steel blade
Self-cleaning sap groove keeps blades from sticking
Non-slip comfort grips
Right or left-handed use
Cutting capacity-5/8 inch

Here is a higher quality more professional by pass pruner which we have tested and liked.

The Fiskars professional bypass pruning shears are an ideal choice for all kinds of pruning tasks. The pruner features adjustable blade tension that gives the user increased control over desired cutting force and precision. The replaceable stainless steel blade can cut branches up to 1 inch in diameter and features an integrated sap groove to keep the cutting action smooth and stick-free all-season long. The bypass blade provides a cleaner cut for living, green growth, and the ambidextrous handle design allows for comfortable left or right-handed use, making it an ideal choice for personal or professional use.

This tool has a different design that allows you to cut branches with less pressure from your own hands.

Produced by a leader in the garden tools market, the Fiskars PowerGear bypass pruner is perfect for precise clean cutting of green growth. The pruner features Fiskars's trademarked PowerGear design, which maximizes leverage for more pruning power for your effort. As you clasp the pruner, the outside handle actually rotates with the gears, an ingenious design that minimizes strain and fatigue while providing impressive results. The replaceable ultrahardened steel blade is designed to stay sharp longer than leading blades, and the handles are made of reinforced nylon engineered for strength and lightness. Fiskars PowerGear tools have been awarded the Arthritis Foundation's ease-of-use commendation. Designed with comfort in mind, the tool fits perfectly in the hand. With its 3/4-inch cutting capacity, this is definitely a professional quality pruner, but even weekend gardeners can benefit from its fantastic design. Lifetime warranty.

Loppers Shears Pruners - Garden Tools Type: Hand Pruner Blade Length: 3/4 Handle Type: Nyglass

Anvil Pruners:

In this style, the cutting blade comes down in the center of a soft metal or hard plastic anvil, sort of like a knife cutting on a cutting board. This tool is designed to cut dead or very dry tough wood. The blade should make contact with the anvil all along its length. This design makes them better for cutting larger branches without springing the blades, up to ¾ inch. But the anvil design won't cut as close to the trunk, leaving a small stub.

This is a heavy duty quality anvil type pruner.

Most pruners depend entirely on the user's hand strength for their cutting action. This all-metal anvil pruner features a ratcheting action that multiplies the user's power through the comfort grip by as much as 40%. Cuts through new green branches up to 3/4 inch in diameter, and deadwood branches up to 1 1/2 inch. Great for removing live overgrowth as well as larger deadwood in the dormant season. For over 25 years The Rumford Gardener has been the manufacturer of choice for master gardeners, landscapers, hobbyists, and homeowners. All Rumford tools carry a five-year warranty, and are designed to make your gardening tasks easy and enjoyable.

A variation on the anvil theme, our ratchet pruner increases cutting force by up to a third. So weaker hands have an easier time cutting through stems and deadwood up to 3/4" thick.

Oxo is a very reliable brand.

Product Features

Versatile bypass hand shears with 3/4-inch-diameter cutting capacity
Hardened, Teflon-coated, steel cutting blades provide maximum cutting strength
Conveniently located locking switch; easily accessible by both left- or right-handed users
Convenient for gardening and various yardwork projects; soft, comfortable non-slip grip
Measures 8 by 1 by 2 inches

What about carrying your hand pruner in a holster?

This is a nice one.

Brook & Hunter build unmatched, world class garden tools. They have a unique appearance and capable of standing up to rigorous use. They require very little maintenance, yet are able to last substantially longer than other tools in the market. But most importantly, Brook & Hunter garden tools are treasured by the gardeners who use them. For the handle, they are made of extremely dense wood, a wood that is readily available and recognized by craftsmen as strong and durable. They have material strong enough to be used in flooring and as structural supports in construction. They use great care and patience, always ensuring the natural shape, beauty and strength of the materials. Brook & Hunter brown leather holster for large pruners.