Understanding the Distinctions Between Pruning Shears and Hand Pruners

Grab your hand-held cutting tool, or is it a hand pruner? Actually, several names refer to the same device. There's no distinction between pruning shears and hand pruners. However, we sometimes use these names interchangeably to describe various tools, which can lead to confusion.

When discussing pruning shears, the term typically refers to small, one-handed cutting tools. Pruning shears and hand pruners are used interchangeably. These tools are ideal for cutting woody or semi-woody stems and branches less than 3⁄4 an inch in diameter. In British gardening articles, you may come across this tool referred to as secateurs—the same tool, just a different name.

Although the term pruning shears is general, we can delve deeper and focus on tools designed for specific tasks. A high-quality set of pruning shears is versatile, while snips, loppers, and hedge shears are more specialized.

Types of Pruning Tools

While all loppers are pruners, not all pruners are loppers. Snips have a distinct role in pruning. However, the terms are often used interchangeably, causing confusion. Learning the names of various garden and shrub-cutting tools will help you choose the right one for the job and minimize misunderstandings.

Choose the tool based on what needs to be cut. If it's green, thin, and soft, use snips. For slim, green material, opt for hand pruners. If it's larger than your thumb, head to the garden shed and grab the loppers or a pruning saw.

Loppers

Loppers are heavy-duty, two-handed pruners with handles two feet long to provide enhanced leverage. Use them when you need to "lop off" a substantial branch. Lopping pruners are ideal for material 1⁄2 inch or larger in diameter.

Snips

Snips are similar to scissors with shorter blades and are light-duty tools. Often used for cutting live, soft, green tissue like flower stems or tomato branches, they can be called florist snips, flower scissors, or harvesting snips.

Pruners

Hand pruners perform various tasks in between. They are operated with one hand and have multiple styles. Typically used for woody stems, they can cut tomatoes or prune dahlias if they're sharp. Pruning roses, cutting back raspberry canes, or light trimming on young trees are all suitable for hand pruners.

Anvil vs. Bypass Pruning Shears

When purchasing pruning shears, you might notice some are called bypass pruners, while others are anvil pruners. Your choice depends on the material being cut.

An essential distinction in pruners is their cutting method, i.e., anvil or bypass. Selecting the wrong type will lead to dissatisfaction with dull edges or damage to the tool.

Anvil Pruners

Anvil pruners have a single sharpened blade that meets the backstop or anvil at a 90-degree angle. This action is similar to a kitchen chef knife pushing through a carrot until it hits the cutting board. The anvil is usually softer, like brass, to prevent excessive dulling of the hardened steel blade.

Although it appears that anvil pruners would make a clean cut like the carrot example, they perform poorly on smaller green stems and often crush plant tissue instead of cutting it. Anvil pruners excel when pruning thicker, dead wood. Dead woody material can strain bypass pruners.

Bypass Pruners

Bypass pruners involve one sharpened blade that slides past a heavier (non-sharpened) opposing blade. A well-adjusted set of bypass pruners can make precise cuts on soft green wood. They are also suitable for small dead stems, but exceedingly hard wood or larger dead branches can cause the blade to misalign with the back edge, resulting in a gap. For such tasks, opt for anvil pruners.

If you can only invest in one type of hand pruner, choose top-quality bypass pruners. They will effectively complete most tasks and last for many years.

How do you sharpen gardening hedge trimmers? While all hedge trimmers can be sharpened, those that can be taken apart are simpler to handle. Sharpening gardening hedge trimmers is a straightforward process, and all hedge trimmers can be sharpened using the same steps: disassembling, cleaning, honing the cutting edge (usually with a file), and reassembling.
How do you clean gardening hedge trimmers? Cleaning gardening hedge trimmers between plants or at the end of the season is essential. For sanitizing hedge trimmers between plants, use 70% isopropyl alcohol, either sprayed or thoroughly applied with a cloth. Cover all parts that come into contact with plant matter. A 10% bleach solution is excellent for end-of-season soaking and cleaning.

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In the world of gardening, the term 'Garden Care' encompasses various aspects, including 'Caring for Your Yard'. BHG recommends choosing the right pruning tool based on the material being cut. For instance, if it's thin and green, opt for snips. If it's larger than your thumb, head to the garden shed and grab the loppers or a pruning saw.

When discussing pruning tools, reverting to familiar names like pruning shears and hand pruners can sometimes lead to confusion. However, learning the names of these tools can help minimize misunderstandings and ensure you have the right tool for the job. For instance, loppers, snips, and hand pruners each have their specific roles and uses.