Click
here to see a list of UK suppliers of pruning and cutting
tools
Choosing pruning
& cutting tools
The majority of gardening tools should be seen as long-term investments.
Tools that are well designed and kept in good condition really
do make a difference. A really good pair of secateurs will probably
outlast two or three pairs of cheaper ones – and be easier
and more efficient to use. Cleaning your tools after use will
protect your investment and often keep the blades sharper too.
Most metals will rust, so don’t put cutting or pruning tools
away with sap left on the blades. Wipe them clean with a damp
cloth or rinse under running water, then dry thoroughly with a
cloth. Finally, wipe over with an oily rag, or spray with a rust-proofing
product.
Tools have been grouped here according
to use although many serve more than one function – this
makes it easier to weigh up the pros and cons of different tools
intended for similar jobs.
Sharp blades make pruning and cutting
easier and they will do less damage to the plants. Most blades
can be kept sharp with a sharpening stone, but blades that need
special sharpening techniques, such as mowers and some secateurs,
are best serviced by a professional unless you are familiar with
the methods used.
Tools take up space in your garden
shed, and large ones can be expensive to buy. Consider hiring
those that you use only occasionally. A shredder is an example
of a bulky and expensive item that you may prefer to hire rather
than buy.
The condition of hired tools can
vary enormously, and powered tools that are not well maintained
are a potential hazard. Always satisfy yourself about the condition
of tools that you hire – and never leave the shop without
receiving instructions or advice if you don’t know how to
use the tool. This applies especially to potentially dangerous
tools, such as chainsaws, hedge trimmers and cultivators. Protective
clothing may be necessary for the safe operation of some tools
(goggles, ear protectors and gloves, for example). A good hire
shop will be able to advise and should supply these with the tools.
SECATEURS
The most important of the pruning tools, secateurs will cope with
most routine pruning jobs around the garden. Most secateurs are
only intended for branches up to about 1 cm (1/2 in) thick, so
thicker branches need loppers (long-handled pruners) or one of
the pruning saws.
There are two main types of secateurs,
by-pass and anvil:
By-pass secateurs, the most common, have two cutting blades, as
scissors do, and make a clean cut provided the blades are sharp.
Anvil secateurs cut with one sharp
blade moving against a blunt anvil. Because the anvil is made
of a softer metal it does not blunt the blade, as you might imagine,
but the blade must be kept sharp to avoid crushing the stem rather
than cutting it cleanly.
A third type, parrot-beak, is less
common: these have a scissor-like action like the by-pass but
the two blades curve towards each other.
Flower gatherers are like secateurs
but grip the flower stem after cutting.
Quality counts. Cheap secateurs probably
won’t last long, an expensive pair will probably last a decade
or more, and spare parts will be available to keep them working
well. If you want them only for occasional pruning, or perhaps
cutting back herbaceous plants, you may be quite happy with a
cheap pair.
LOPPERS (LONG-HANDLED PRUNERS)
Use loppers for cutting through thicker branches, about 1–2
cm (1/2–1 in) thick. As with secateurs there are both by-pass
and anvil types. Their larger blades and the leverage of the long
handles make the job relatively effortless, and some have a ratchet
mechanism to make it easier to deal with thick stems.
Weight and balance are important,
as you will probably have to use them on branches above head height.
LONG-ARMED TREE PRUNERS
These are designed to cut through branches – usually up to
2–3 cm (1/2–1 in) thick – that are too high for
loppers or secateurs. They have a long reach and may have an extension
mechanism. The blade is operated by a lever or rope.
PRUNING SAWS
For any branches more than 2–3 cm (1/2–1 in) thick you
will need a pruning saw. A straight-edged single-sided type with
its handle set at an angle is the best general-purpose saw for
pruning.
A Grecian saw (with a curved blade)
is for working in a confined space.
Although a bow saw is useful for
cutting up pieces that have already been removed, the large handle
makes it difficult to use in a restricted space, and double-edged
saws with tapering blades are difficult to use without the other
edge damaging parts of the plant that you want to retain.
PRUNING KNIVES
Unlike an ordinary knife, the blade of a pruning knife is curved
to control the cut more easily. They are popular with some professionals,
but are potentially dangerous if used carelessly.
Some pruning knives also have a special
blade for budding.
GARDEN SHEARS
Shears are intended primarily for hedge trimming but are useful
for deadheading plants such as heathers and for cutting down the
dead stems of herbaceous plants. They are also used sometimes
for trimming the overhanging grass on lawn edges (though long-handled
shears are better for this).
Wavy-edged blades are designed to
make it less easy for stems to slip out as the blades are closed,
and may be better for cutting thicker stems.
There is often a notch towards the
handle end of the blade. This is intended for cutting the odd
shoot that would otherwise be too thick to cut.
Single-handed shears are intended
only for light work and are not suitable for cutting a hedge although
they can be very useful for tidying up grass verges.
POWERED HEDGE TRIMMERS
After a powered lawnmower, these are one of the best investments
if you have a lot of hedging to cut. They save both time and effort.
If the hedge is not too high or long
and within easy reach of an electricity supply, an electric hedge
trimmer is relatively inexpensive, reliable and easy to use. Great
care must be taken with the trailing cable (take it over your
shoulder and through a belt, with the cable always behind you),
and the supply must always have an RCD in the circuit to reduce
the risk of an electric shock in the event of an accident. For
a small hedge, a battery-powered version may be adequate –
and less hazardous.
Petrol models are usually more powerful,
have longer blades, and will deal with tougher stems. They are
usually heavy and extremely tiring to use, however, if you are
not used to working with this kind of trimmer regularly.
Irrespective of power supply, safety
features such as blade guards, shields and quick stopping are
very important.
Some cut on only one edge, others
on both. Although in theory you can use two-sided blades to save
time by cutting with a back and forth sweeping motion, many gardeners
find it more natural to cut in just one direction.
Double-action or reciprocating blades
(in which both blades move) are generally considered less tiring
to use as they vibrate less than single-action blades (in which
only one blade moves).
CHAINSAWS
Use with great caution. Chainsaws are useful for cutting down
a small tree, but are best not regarded as a pruning tool in the
hands of amateurs. Unless you are familiar with all the safety
precuations, it is best to have a professional remove branches
thick enough to demand the use of a chainsaw.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
Electrically powered tools – even those operating at mains
voltage – are used safely by gardeners everywhere and tragedies
are fortunately rare. However, deaths and serious injuries do
occur, and it will be no consolation to know that the odds are
remote if you or a member of your family is a victim. Don’t
take chances, then you are much less likely to become a tragic
statistic.
Always follow the specific advice
given by the manufacturer carefully, especially regarding the
safe positioning of cables while in use, and always use a residual
current device (RCD) in the circuit. This will almost instantly
detect any change in the current caused by an accident and disconnect
the supply before any potentially lethal shock is received.
Do not clean equipment while it is
still connected to the power source.
Taken from Reader's Digest New Gardening
Year - a month-by-month guide to success in your garden
Feature: Erica Miller, Homebase
Click
here to see a list of UK suppliers of pruning and cutting
tools
