Lately, gardening has become more and more popular in the United States. Not only are the young getting more interested in gardening, but even the old are jumping in. A large part of this is due to the popularity of the hybrid tomato, peppers, and cucumbers. You just can’t get the same taste from store-bought produce.
With so many people interested in gardening, it’s inevitable the tools of the trade will become great sellers. One of the most popular is the pruning shears. These are the all-purpose scissors most people need when caring for their gardens.
Looking for a good pair of pruning shears, but you’re not sure which one to buy?
In this article, I’ve put together a list of the nine best pruning shears for you.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Felco F-2 068780 Classic Manual Hand Pruner | Best Overall |  |
| Hydrofarm HGPP400C Precision Curved Blade Pruners | Budget Pick |  |
| Felco Pruning Shears | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. Felco F-2 068780 Classic Manual Hand Pruner
Pros:
- Anvil blade with a sap groove
- A hardened bolt and nut to assure exact adjustment of both the cutting and anvil blades
- A rubber cushion and shock absorber
- Ideal pruner for light applications
- Easily adjustable
- Features strong blades with a wire-cutting notch
- Forged aluminum handles
- Blades are made of high-quality hardened steel
- One year warranty
Cons:
- Not durable
- Anvil too short
- Some users reported it getting rusty
The Felco F-2 068780 Classic Hand Pruner is Swiss-made. This pruner is ideal for smaller branches and shrubs. It features hardened steel blades that are strong and durable and have precision-molded handles.
This pruner is designed for professionals and regular gardeners alike. It’s a high-quality pruner that’s worthy of the long-lasting reputation of Felco products.
2. TABOR TOOLS K77A Straight Pruning Shears
Pros:
- Long reach makes picking and trimming a fun and easy task
- Ideal for deadheading, trimming, shaping, and other quick snips on small plants
- Suitable for hydroponics and indoor herb growing
- Stainless-steel design blades prevent rusting
- Easy to clean and reduce germ build-up
- Sturdy handles for increased comfort and optimum performance
- At the end of the upper handle, there is a discreet open/close clip which allows for easy and safe storage
- The embedded shock-absorbing spring brings a comfortable bounce to your cutting action so that you can work without fatigue
Cons:
- The joints are a bit tight
- The coil springs don't slide well
- The spring mechanism is just cheap and doesn’t return cleanly when it's been compressed
The TABOR TOOLS K77A Straight Pruning Shears will do just about any gardening job that you throw at them. They're designed to be a very versatile pruning tool that you can use in many different scenarios. Need to harvest some fresh greens? These do a great job with thick branches. Need to cut a thorn bush? You can lock these in place and cut through thorny branches with the precision of a surgeon.
These pruning shears are made with a lightweight composite material that is designed to be strong and durable. This sturdy material also makes the pruning shears very lightweight. They also have a fully hardened heat-treated steel blade that is designed to cut quickly and efficiently.
3. Felco Pruning Shears
Pros:
- Made of forged aluminum handles and hardened steel blades
- Ergonomic design has a revolving handle for extra comfort,
- Suitable for every type of pruning
- Cushioned-shock absorber softens the cutting impact
- Features a rotating handle for increased comfort
- Offers a large cutting capacity and well-balanced weight for optimal gardening
- Features a wire cutter for small wires and a sap groove to minimize the blade sticking
- Hardened steel blade and screw-mounted anvil blade ensure reliably clean, precise cuts
- Narrow pointed anvil blade allows easy access to twiggy branches and assures a close cut to the trunk
- Swiss-made cutter optimal for medium-sized hands
- Ideal pruner for small pruning work such as grapevines, shrubs, and young trees
- Lightweight metal handles
- Limited lifetime warranty
Cons:
- Expensive
- Lousy to hold for long
- Blades rust easily
The Felco pruner is an elegant, lightweight pruner designed specifically for a wide range of pruning needs. They’re ergonomic and easy to operate, so you can prune with a single hand and still maintain a stronghold. It’s also worth noting that these pruners come with a lifetime warranty.
This is ideal for gardeners who need a lot of precision to work with a variety of plants. As we mentioned earlier, this pruner is built to last, and we’re pretty confident it will.
It’s important to note that these pruners are more expensive than most other brands, but they hold up to Felco’s reputation for durable, high-quality pruning devices.
4. Corona Hand RP 3230 Ratchet Pruner
Pros:
- Power multiplying ratchet action
- 3/4 inch cut capacity
- Non-stick coated steel blade
- Co-molded handles
- Versatile design is suitable for right and left-handed use
- Easy cleaning all-season long
- Stainless steel rivet construction ensures strength and durability
- Specially designed molded grip to fit all hand sizes
- The easy-to-set, squeeze-to-release safety lock keeps the blade closed when not in use
Cons:
- Grip span too large for some users
- The ratchet handle slips off
- The racket isn't smooth enough
The Corona Hand RP 3230 Ratchet pruner comes with a flared blade to cut small branches up to 3/4 inches thick. The handles are very lightweight, and they are contoured for maximum comfort and maximum grip. The ratchet mechanism is made from high-strength steel, and it needs very little force to close the pruner.
5. Fiskars 99216935J Pruning Softouch Micro-Tip Snip
Pros:
- Micro-tip pruning snips makes deadheading, trimming, and shaping plants easy
- Spring-action design gently opens blades after each cut to help reduce hand fatigue
- Softgrip Touchpoints enhances comfort and control
- Easy-open lock and blade cover protects blades for safe transport and storage
- Especially helpful for gardeners with arthritis or limited hand strength
- Skin-friendly non-stick coated blades
- Lifetime warranty
Cons:
- The spring only lasts for one season
- Tiny snips
Pruning your garden is necessary, and garden pruning shears are a gardener’s best friend. Fiskars is a worldwide pruning shear manufacturer. They provide reliable pruning shears for different leaves cut. This pruning shear is modeled with an advanced blade made from super-hard, non-stick coated steel for heavy-duty pruning. It has a comfortable non-slip grip handle and a comfortable, interlocking one-handed opening.
6. Hydrofarm HGPP400C Precision Curved Blade Pruners
Pros:
- Curved titanium blade tips for ultimate cutting precision
- Right or left-handed use
- Surgical stainless steel holds sharp edge longer
- Ergonomic design and comfort lock reduces stress to the hand
- High-quality return spring enhances speed and performance
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Comfortable grip
- Easy to clean
Cons:
- Good for trimming only, not for heavy-duty tasks
- Wears out quickly
If you’re looking for a good pair of pruners for your garden at a reasonable price, then you might want to try out the Hydrofarm HGPP400C Precision Curved Blade Pruner. The pruner has a patented precision-ground blade. This allows for a very clean cut in the garden.
7. gonicc 8" Professional Premium Titanium Bypass Pruning Shears
Pros:
- Drop forged body and handles
- Quality blade made of premium Titanium steel with ultra-fine polishing technology
- Ergonomically designed non-slip handles
- Sap groove design to help keep pruning shears from sticking by channeling off sap
- Pruners can cut up to 3/4" diameter size tree branches
Cons:
- Foam padding slips off after a few days of use
- Not for left-handed people
Gonicc 8" pruning shears are ideal for pruning bushes, shrubs, tree limbs, and other small bonsai plants.
This is our top pick for the best pruning shears for gardeners. While there are many products on the market, this budget-friendly tool does the job quite well. We even recommend this pair of pruning shears for professionals.
The pruning shears have an ergonomic design and contoured handles. The anti-slip grips have soft and comfortable silicone padding that provides superior grip even when wet. The heavy-duty titanium blades are corrosion resistant, which means they’re not prone to rust.
8. Fiskars Professional Bypass Pruning Shears
Pros:
- Ideal for cutting stems and light branches
- You can adjust blade tension to your hand strength and the materials you’re cutting
- Angled cutting head reduces wrist fatigue and makes it easy to prune at awkward angles
- The maximum cutting capacity is around 1-inch in diameter
- Optimized for safety and precision
- Anti-slip, non-stick grips
Cons:
- Too hard to close
- Not suitable for tough branches
- Less sturdy than expected
If you’re looking for a set that’s attractive, comes with a lot of features, and very easy to use, then you’ll definitely want to consider the Fiskars Professional Bypass Pruning Shears. Weighing just 1.7 pounds, this two-handed set, is small enough to be used with one hand, but big enough to cut through tree branches and prune other deadwood with ease.
Fiskars Professional Bypass Pruning Shears has an angled cutting head that reduces wrist fatigue, and adjustable blade tension fits your hand. The fully hardened, precision-ground steel blade stays sharper longer.
Low-friction, rust-resistant coating helps the blade glide through wood, and a self-cleaning sap groove keeps the blade from sticking.
9. gonicc 8" Professional SK-5 Steel Blade Sharp Anvil Pruning Shears
Pros:
- Quality blade made of high carbon SK-5 steel with chromium-plating technology
- Blades stay sharper and last longer
- The pulley design and spring-loaded mechanism easily cuts branches with less effort
- Ergonomically designed non-slip handles are strong and comfortable
- Lightweight, 4.8 ounces only
- Safety lock can be freed with a single hand
- The high-quality construction ensures that the products will last you for years to come
- Anvil type pruning shears
- The tool is also easy to clean
Cons:
- Not suitable for thick branches
- Pruning shears sometimes get stuck
Gonicc Professional Pruning Shears (GPPS-1001) is a good partner for your garden work.
One can easily use sharp and reliable pruners for most of the lightweight pruning work, they can help you do some heavy-duty work for less than 3/4" diameter tree branches.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the best brand of pruning shears?
Some of the most desired brands of pruning shears include Felco, Corona, Fiskars, and Ratzz Sawzall.
Pruning shears vary in function, weight, and design. Some pruning shears are meant for small and delicate tasks, while others are for heavier work, like cutting trees. The weight of the shears is usually a factor in deciding the strength of the shears. Heavy pruning shears are more durable and meant for tougher tasks. They are also better suited for people with stronger hands. Lightweight pruning shears are easy to use and promote a comfortable garden life.
What is the best pruner?
When it comes to the best pruner, you can’t go wrong with the Felco pruning shears or the Fiskars PowerGear. They both cut through almost anything with a flick of a wrist. Many pruners are very long, making them difficult to use. Heavy pruners are not very comfortable to use either.
Both the Felco and Fiskars are lightweight and have shorter handles than many pruning shears. Both are sturdy, easy to use, comfortable, and known for long product life.
What are the best garden shears to buy?
Selecting tools is always challenging because every gardener has their personal preferences as to what’s most important. For example, some gardeners emphasize durability and ergonomics, while others focus on cutting and durability. I look for all these and more when choosing a pair of pruning shears.
If you’re looking for a set that’s lightweight,, attractive, comes with many features, and is very easy to use. You’ll want to consider the Fiskars Professional Bypass Pruning Shears. Weighing just 0.8 ounces, this set is small enough to be used with one hand but big enough to cut through tree branches and prune other deadwood easily.
Can I use regular scissors to prune plants?
You can indeed use any sharp pair of scissors to prune trees and shrubbery, but there are some important drawbacks. First, pruning shears allows you to cut with a scissor and a pruner in a single tool. Second, they’re usually more accurate, providing a clean-cut and are lightweight.
This allows you to trim your plants down to size quickly. Finally, some models come with built-in clippers suitable for removing deadhead flowers or stripping off unwanted leaves. In short, it’s worth it to invest in quality, durable pruning shears that will be able to tackle your pruning tasks well for many years to come.
Conclusion
Is getting the right shear for your garden a problem? Well, we are here to provide the best pruning shears for a variety of tasks and requirements. While there are many pruning shears in the market, choosing the best one is a time-consuming task. Keeping this in mind, we have come up with the nine best pruning shears. We hope that you will find these reviews beneficial while buying the right tool for your garden.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| Felco F-2 068780 Classic Manual Hand Pruner | Best Overall | |
| Hydrofarm HGPP400C Precision Curved Blade Pruners | Budget Pick | |
| Felco Pruning Shears | Upgrade Pick | |