Owning a pair of best garden pruners or pruning shears is essential for any gardener and homeowner. It doesn’t matter if you call them garden pruners or pruning shears. Those are simply two names for a handheld pair of garden clippers. But whatever you call them, owning a pair of the best garden pruners or pruning shears is essential for every gardener.
Five Things to Look for in the Best Garden Pruners
So, what should you look for when shopping for the best garden pruners? We’ve been using garden pruners for years, and these are the five things that qualify pair of pruning shears for the title of “best garden pruners.”
- Cutting Blades. The cutting blades are the only part of the tool that touch the branch that needs to be cut. So, the blades must be made of tough, high-quality steel.
- Comfortable Hand Grips. A great pair of garden pruners need to feel great in your hand. What feels great in your hand might be different for someone else. But most great pruning shears
- Maximum Cutting Capacity. Some garden pruners are light duty for cutting smaller branches and twigs. Other pruning shears are more durable, so they can be used for cutting larger branches. That’s why most serious gardeners have more than one pair of pruners.
- Spring Action. To qualify as best garden pruners, a pair of pruning shears must have a good, solid spring. The spring opens the blades after you’ve made a cut. That’s what makes it possible to make a series of effortless cuts.
- Locking Mechanism. The locking mechanism keeps the pruner blades together when the tool is not being used. This is a safety issue, because an open pair of pruner blades can easily cut hands and fingers. The locking mechanism should be easy to flick with your thumb.
Using these five criteria, we have tested pruning shears to determine those that qualify as best garden pruners for most gardeners. All of the garden pruners described below are available online from Amazon. Home Garden and Homestead is an Amazon affiliate, and we earn a small commission generated by the links in this story. Thanks for supporting this website!
Best Garden Pruners – Overall Winners
Fiskars PowerGear2 Pruner
Looking for a great pair of garden pruners? Fiskars is a familiar name in garden cutting tools. The Fiskars PowerGear2 Pruners are a great tool for any gardener or homeowner. Quite simply, dollar for dollar the Fiskars PowerGear2 might be the best pair of handheld pruning shears available.
The patented design with modified gears and cam mechanism optimizes the cutting power. That means less fatigue for your hand—and more powerful cuts. Fiskars says the patented gear technology gives you three times more power with every cut. This tool can cut through ¾ inch thick branches with ease. That’s impressive performance.
The hardened bypass steel blade is sharp and durable, and it has a low-friction coating for less gumming and rust resistance. The contoured, rolling handle fits most hands, and it enhances the natural motion of your hand. This is an outstanding tool for about $30.
Corona Forged Classic Bypass Pruner
The Corona BP 3180D forged bypass pruner is a true classic. The dual arc cutting blade is tough and does a great job of cutting branches up to one inch in diameter. Just sharpen the cutting blade for years of use in the garden.
The cleaning sap groove in the blade removes debris, ensuring clean cutting action. The comfortable, non-slip grip on the handles makes the tool easy to hold and use. The closing mechanism of these pruners is a simple loop hook to keep the blades safely together when not in use. These pruning shears are designed for long-lasting performance. The size of the handles is best suited to medium and large-sized hands.
Best Garden Pruners – Premium Tools
Felco F-2 Classic Hand Pruner
Felco tools are unique in today’s marketplace. That’s because Felco makes tools—and replacement parts for their tools—so their pruners will last forever. You pay more for these fine tools. But when you buy a Felco F-2 Classic Hand Pruner, the tool might last for the rest of your life.
The handles are lightweight, sturdy aluminum covered with easy-grip rubber. The hardened steel blades easily cut branches. Plus, there’s a wire cutting notch that enables these pruners to cut wire, too. And Felco F-2 pruners come with a lifetime warranty, and all parts are replaceable. This is a high-quality tool made in Switzerland for people who appreciate time-tested craftsmanship.
Florian Ratchet Cut Pruners
Florian Tools is a made-in-America success story. In fact, the Florian Ratchet-Cut Tool design was patented more than 60 years ago. The Florian Ratchet Cut Pruners are made in Connecticut from locally sourced raw materials. The carbon steel blades are tough, and the cutting blade keeps its sharp edge for a long time. The non-stick blade coating helps to keep the blade clean.
The patented ratchet mechanism gives this tool added cutting power. The bright-colored handles are made of fiberglass-reinforced nylon. They are lightweight and feel good in your hand. In fact, a pair of Florian Ratchet Cut Pruners looks and feels different than any other pruners. If Ferrari made pruners, this is how they would look and feel.
Best Garden Pruners – Battery Powered
SUCA Electric Pruning Shears
SUCA electric Pruning Shears are sharp and powerful to get pruning jobs done fast. These power-assisted pruning shears can cut branches that are up to 32 millimeters (1.25 inches) in diameter. Great for seniors and those with less hand strength.
These pruners have an ergonomic cushioned hand grip that makes them comfortable and easy to use. The steel blade provides sharp, clean cuts. Great for cutting all woody bushes including rose bushes. The included rechargeable battery provides up to eight hours of use. The handy display shows the amount of battery charge still available.
Best Garden Pruners – Basic Duty
WORKPRO Bypass Pruning Shears
The blades of these WORKPRO Bypass Pruning Shears are strong, rust resistant, and sharp enough for most pruning projects. These value-priced pruners have comfortable anti-slip rubber handles that reduce hand fatigue.
The built in spring helps push the blades back open after a cut. This greatly reduces hand and muscle work. The WORKPRO bypass pruners are a great first pair of pruners, and they also are a good choice as a “spare pair.” A good value at about $12.
Fiskars SmartFit Bypass Pruner
It’s no surprise that the Fiskars SmartFit Bypass Pruner is an impressive pair of handheld pruning shears. The bypass style steel blade is sharp and durable, and it can slice through fresh branches up to one inch in diameter. Plus, the blade opening can be easily adjusted to fit the size of your hand.
The ergonomically designed glass-fiber reinforced plastic handles feel good in your hands. Quickly engage the locking mechanism for safety. This is an outstanding tool for under $20.
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