Gardening : Tools / Equipment : Pruning Equipment : Home & Garden Television

Hand pruners

Anvil hand pruners

Do you have the right tool for your next pruning job? Gardening by the Yard host Paul James takes a close look at pruners and provides a few tips on getting the job done:

Hand pruners: Commonly called pruners, these tools resemble a pair of pliers and come in three main types. An anvil pruner features a single, straight-edged cutting blade that closes against an anvil of softer metal. A ratchet pruner also has a straight cutting edge, but it has a ratchet mechanism that cuts through the branch in stages. The cutting action of ratchet pruners are slower than the simpler anvil type, but these pruners provide a greater leverage that's important for smaller hands. Bypass pruners, the most popular type, cut with two curved blades that bypass each other in the manner of scissor blades.

Ratchet pruners

Bypass pruners

Loppers

Lopping shears: Better known as loppers, this tool is available in the same three cutting actions found in pruners. They feature longer handles for extra leverage on thicker limbs and stems. Try to find one with a rubber shock absorber for greater comfort and for avoiding banged knuckles.

Notched hand shears

Hand shears: This tool has been around for a long time and it resembles an oversized pair of scissors. Most have straight blades, and they often have a notch at the base of the blade for thicker stems. Great for hedge trimming, you should look for something lightweight, well-balanced, strong and, most of all, sharp.

Sheep shears: This is one of Paul James's favorites. Handy for all sorts of light jobs, James is convinced you will become a convert once you get the hang of using them.

Power shears: Available in gas or electric versions, powered shears can make easy work of trimming long hedges or ornamental grasses. On the downside, they are noisy, more expensive than manual shears and require more careful handling because of the increased hazards associated with any power tool.

Pole pruner

Figure A

Pole Pruners: This is the tool of choice for limbing up dead wood high in a tree. Available in various lengths or with telescoping poles, the business end features a hooked anvil and a curved cutting blade for limbs up to about 1-1/4 inches in thickness. A yank on the attached rope operates the curved blade. Some pole pruners also have a saw blade on the end of the pole for cutting larger branches. Newer versions are more lightweight and use a handle instead of a rope, and they may also employ a rotating cutting head (Figure A) for tight spots and comfortable cutting angles.

Hand saws

Bow saw

Pruning Saws: Typical pruning saws are made for medium to large branches and come with straight or curved blades of different lengths. Thicker or tougher branches merit a bow saw, though. They cut with surprising ease and most have a replaceable blade.

Power pole pruner

Power pole pruner: The all-in-one pruner-lopper-saw comes with a gas-powered engine at one end of a telescoping pole and a 12-inch chainsaw at the other end. The power pole pruner is capable of cuts up to 20 feet off the ground. Despite the dangers associated with power tools, this new power pruner is still safer than using standard chain saws or climbing up trees or ladders, James says. The pruner costs $400 to $600, but it's cheaper than professional tree services in the long run. James adds that it is not a tool for everybody, and you should assess your needs before buying one.

Paul James likes to prune after the autumn leaves have fallen. Evergreens are no problem, but a dead limb on a deciduous plant looks the same as a living one that's lost its leaves. The solution? Tag them! Simply use spray paint to mark dead limbs before fall comes around.

More uses for spray paint from Paul James:

Bulb beds can be marked to avoid damaging them or digging them up.
Mark the boundaries of new beds. You can do it without bending over if you buy a device that features a wheel and paint can holder on one end of a pole.
If you loan your tools, spray paint makes an identifying mark.
Brightly painted tool handles are much easier to find on the ground.

Also in this Episode

Gardening by the Yard : Episode GBY-519
•	The Perfection of Pansies
•	Garden Safety
•	Pruning Equipment

Gardening

Pruning Equipment

Tools

MOST POPULAR

Home and Garden Ideas from our sponsors