Garden secateurs - tips for choosing a tool and an overview of the best models (125 photos)

Gardening should be fun. To care for trees and shrubs, a variety of improvised mechanisms are used. They help prune rose bushes, renew fruit trees. Among the many types, models and brands, it is very difficult to navigate even for professionals. But the invariable requirement is functionality, ergonomics and efficiency in work.

How to choose a secateurs, what to pay attention to - we will talk about this in the article.

Summary of the article:

Purpose and advantages

Even novice gardeners are aware of the need to regularly prune trees and shrubs in their infield. So you can timely form the correct crown, adjust its growth, size and shape.

As a result, fruiting increases, and the harvesting procedure is greatly simplified. An indispensable assistant in this matter is the usual garden secateurs.

These devices can be of various types, which allows for high-quality pruning of young trees, giving shrubs the most bizarre decorative form. With their help, you can quickly thin out the crown, eliminating excessive density, which harms the future crop and visibility on the site.

Effectively eliminated and diseased or dead branches. If you grow flowers for sale or just for home decoration, then with this tool you can easily cut beautiful buds. It is also used in the care of the vine, in the process of regulating the length of the root system, for cutting cuttings.

A high-quality unit allows you to cut branches with minimal effort, and the slices themselves must be smooth, clean. Torn edges should not be created at the cutting edge, as this often leads to plant diseases. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the strength and reliability of the design.

All the variety of models can be seen in the photo garden secateurs. In a standard design, these components are distinguished:

support knife;
working version of the cutting blade;
spring;
mounting axis with bolt and nut;
lock or lock;
handles.

Basic types and their applicability

Depending on the characteristics of the cutting blade, planar and contact structures are distinguished. The flat pruner has straight cutting components. It is effectively used for thinning young plants, pruning branches.

Equipped with two blades - cutting and counter-knife - provides a neat shape of the cut. Knives are pressed into the branch without strong compression and with minimal damage to the wood.

The contact design is more suitable for cutting hard or dry wood. This is possible due to the presence of one knife and emphasis. The cut plane penetrates the tree, and the emphasis ensures the fastening of the branch and the distribution of pressure evenly along the cut line without splitting.

The task that you set for yourself when carrying out garden work determines the choice. If you need to process annual or perennial trees and shrubs, then the planar type is suitable for you. For curly and shaping haircuts, it is better to choose the contact option.

Using garden equipment, you need to do this correctly - you should not injure yourself or the plant. If the model used has two cutting surfaces, then you can hold it in any way.

When you cut young plants with a planar model, it is advisable to arrange it perpendicular to the branch. But if it is thick, then you need to produce this action from an angle, which will greatly simplify the task.

The contact tool should be oriented in the root to prevent injury to a tree or bush. The direction of the sharp blade to the root will not lead to splitting of the stem.

Types and their features

An important characteristic of the garden tool in question is the pruning mechanism. It depends on its features how easy it is to manipulate and which plants can be cut.

Gardening scissors

They have two cutting surfaces similar to ordinary household scissors. The design allows for more even cuts. But if you process thicker and denser stems, plant tissue will be strongly compressed.

In this regard, professionals suggest choosing for cutting flowers and young plants with a diameter of 15-20 mm.

Bypass view

They have one convex cutting surface. The second part is shifted relative to it and acts as an emphasis. When a working operation occurs, the cutting element moves along the stem along the stop.

The tool must be taken so that the main part is oriented to the branch. In this case, the base does not deteriorate, but the cut-off section will be deformed.

This option is suitable for adjusting branches going to growth, as well as for vaccination operations. But you need to choose those products that do not have a gap between the blades. Otherwise, a high-quality cut will not work. The branch will crumple under pressure.

Anvil fixture

The action of the tool is not based on cutting, but cutting, as in the guillotine. A sharp blade fits into a wide support - an anvil and splits the stem. If the cut sheet is metal, then soft materials, such as plastic, are used to finish the stop. So you can successfully trim and not damage the blade when touched with an anvil.

The presence of this reference platform will help to efficiently and quickly cut thick and dry branches during the sanitary treatment of trees and shrubs in the garden. Stems up to 30 mm in diameter are susceptible to exposure.

Ratchet Models

Due to the presence of a spring, which returns to its original position after pressing, it is possible to cut thicker branches without applying serious effort.

Ratchet secateurs provide a flat and smooth cutting surface due to the fact that the cutting blade itself remains motionless when the spring is returned. But much more time is spent on processing green and dry branches than when using other types of equipment.

Battery Models

The mechanism is similar to the usual bypass, but it is not driven by a mechanical movement of the human hand, but due to the energy of the battery. It is enough to press the lever and the blades make the desired cut in a given place.

The advantages are models with a lithium-ion battery. It weighs less, small in size. The battery is charged quickly enough, holds a good charge.

As a result, you get a mobile and maneuverable unit. It can be used when caring for flower beds, young trees. The maximum thickness of the processed parts of the plant is 15-17 mm.

Features of the tool for various types of work

Depending on what you will cut in your garden, the appropriate tool is selected. After all, you may need both a sharp compact and a large pruner.

Florists are more likely to use clippers. The flat structure makes it easy to cut the soft fabric of flower stems, twine and decorative elements.

But when pruning roses will have to work hard. On the bushes there are both young shoots, and harder and drier. To trim the former, a flat-type device is required, and for the latter, a contact device with a ratchet or power mechanism. The presence of the holder will help to avoid injections with spikes.

To process the vines you need to stock up on a tool of three designs:

The plane unit for summer manipulations.
Contact equipment for spring and autumn trimming. This type will help to carefully care for the vine, without splitting and not injuring it. The presence of a power or ratchet mechanism is desirable.
A delimber for thick old stems.

Perennial shrubs should be treated with a contact type device. A flat telescopic pruner is useful for curly haircuts.

It is better to form a crown of trees with the help of delimbers, which give way to thicker wood. Thanks to the planar type of construction, they can easily cut live branches, but dry ones are cut with a contact model. The presence of a power component is advisable. Secateurs with long handles will help reach even the crown.

How to choose the right

When choosing a convenient and high-quality model, pay attention to such factors:

The condition of the blade and the level of its sharpening. Quality samples are made of hardened steel. They resist corrosion and do not require sharpening for a long time.

The ratchet mechanism helps ease stress and reduce fatigue, as it begins to act when the pressure level on the material decreases.

The material from which the handles are made determines the ergonomics of the inventory. It is not recommended to take products with holders made of pure plastic. Rubberized inserts are required.

The inventory with polyamide handles having fiberglass reinforcement, as well as aluminum handles with rubber overlays, has proven itself well.

The rotating mechanism of the lower handle reduces the friction of the hands and reduces stress during operation.

The quality of the springs determines the ease of movement of the blades. Compared with the spiral type, belt springs are recognized as more successful. The return spring is characterized by greater durability.

The presence of Teflon treatment or a chrome layer on the blades eliminates the phenomenon of sticking due to the ingress of juice or other contaminants.

Brand and manufacturer. By this parameter, you can select any option you like. But such proven brands as RACO, Gardena, Fiskars, Felco, Brigadier, ARS, Center Tools, Berger are characterized by popularity.

Using a garden tool greatly simplifies the life of any experienced or novice gardener. Processing trees and shrubs is not a very simple task. Therefore, you will definitely need this effective and productive assistant with regular pruning of plants or in the process of curling a hedge.