A pruner, sometimes called a secateurs, is a handheld instrument mainly used to pick away at unruly stems or deadhead flowers. It includes a strong cutting blade and a spring that opens it back up after cutting. You may also use them for agricultural harvesting and shrubbery cutting. They are necessary gardening equipment for any gardener. There are a plethora of pruner/secateurs from which to choose. However, if you choose the wrong one, they will not serve your objective.
Is There a Distinction Between Pruners and Secateurs?
There is no distinction between a pair of pruners and a pair of secateurs; they are both garden tools. Pruners are used in American English-speaking nations such as America, Canada, and others to refer to this portable instrument, whereas “Secateur” is used in British English-speaking countries. Some people prefer to call them pruning shears.
What are the different types of pruning shears?
There are three primary types of pruners or secateurs available on the market:
Bypass Pruners :
Bypass pruners are the most common and come in various types. The cutting action of a bypass pruner is similar to that of a pair of scissors. A sharpened blade on one side crosses across a thicker metal plate to accomplish the cut.
Where to Use a Bypass Pruner?
Bypass pruners produce the cleanest cuts. It may use to cut “living” items such as stem branches, flowers, fruits, and tree limbs. It will not harm the tissue or wood remaining on the plant. As a result, the plant will recover quickly.
Depending on your hand strength, you may anticipate cutting branches as tiny as your little finger up to 25 millimeters in diameter.
A bypass pruner is a highly maneuverable instrument due to its design. The sharp points let you reach incredibly near to heavily populated areas such as the trunk of a tiny tree, the buds of a stem, or the fork in a branch that you might otherwise miss.
Anvil Pruner :
Cutting in an anvil pruner is like cutting something on a cutting board with a knife. They have a double-edged blade that presses down onto a hardened base plate (anvil). The blade then makes a smash cut with the stem against the anvil jaw or side.
Where to Use an Anvil Pruner?
Anvil secateurs are mainly used to chop deadwood. Using it to cut living materials will most likely shatter or harm the surviving plant, and you may have to cut again. These can cut through strong woody stems if they are kept exceedingly sharp. The best way to use an anvil pruner is to hold the cutting at acute angles to the stalks.
If you’re going to be pruning any dead stems and limbs, you should have a nice set of anvil pruners.
Ratchet Pruners:
Ratchet Pruners are an excellent option if your hands are weak. They offer a particular grip and help you cut tougher or larger diameter limbs. They sustain the progress through the cut with each press due to their unique mechanism. So, when cutting, you may push, release, and repeat until the cut is complete.
Some ratchet pruners additionally have a geared mechanism and rolling handles to make repetitive cutting easier.
When should be used Ratcheting Pruners?
Ratchet pruners are the most famous pair of pruners among gardeners for more challenging yard labor. They make easy work of complex jobs. It doesn’t matter if you have a single blossoms shrub or a lawn full of garden beds. Your garden bushes and trees will need to have some dead foliage, overgrown branches, or unsightly flowers removed.
Some of those branches will be relatively thick. There are a plethora of pruners on the market.
Difference Between Bypass and Anvil Pruners
| Bypass Pruner | Anvil Pruner |
| The type of material you are going to be cutting with the bypass pruner if you can actually see this the blade goes past the counter blade. | The type of material you are going to be cutting with the anvil pruner if you can actually see this the blade goes down into a pocket or just a straight piece of metal here. |
| Bypass Pruner which is great for live branches for cutting those branches. | Anvil Pruner is good for dead branches for cutting those branches. |
Anvil Vs. Bypass Cutter
Anvil cutting tools consist of a single blade that closes onto a cutting block. Instead of employing the bypass method, they are appropriate for thicker stems and woody trimming. An anvil cut is more forceful than a bypass cut and requires less effort—ideal for heavy-duty pruning of dead timber.
Bypass cutting tools contain two sharpened blades that pass over each other in a scissor movement to generate a clean and accurate healthy cut. The bypass movement is ideal for cutting fragile stems since it is less prone to cause bruising and harm to the branches.
Secateurs’ blades fit into narrow crevices, and trim side stems level with main stems. We suggest keeping your package for reference if you use your bypass secateurs to cut through stems thicker than the indicated cutting diameter since this can easily cause damage. Loppers or a pruning saw are better alternatives for cutting through thicker branches.
