Every gardener, novice or professional, has tools in his arsenal to help bring trees and shrubs into proper shape. The formation of the crown of trees can be done in various ways, but you will definitely need a special gardening tool to trim dry and damaged branches. So that tree pruning does not cause significant damage to the plant and is comfortable for the gardener himself, you should pay attention only to high-quality cutting tools. In this article, you can find answers to many questions related to tools for pruning trees and shrubs.
The most essential tools
In most cases, experienced gardeners use pruning shears to trim shrubs and trees. If the garden is young, then this tool will be quite enough. A garden saw or a garden hacksaw may be required to rejuvenate trees. It will help to cope with branches, the diameter of which is more than 5 cm. If the site is more planted with shrubs and you need to prune them not only from above, but also in hard-to-reach places, then the lopper will come to the rescue. In this situation, it will be the most necessary tool.
As for the requirements that apply to garden cutting tools, they are simple and are as follows:
- The tool should always be sharp so that you get smooth and even cuts.
- In order for pruners and other tools to last longer, they must be stored in a dry place and be sure to put them in order after each work with them.
- The tool must be safe and easy to use.
- The ends of the secateurs and loppers should be as narrow as possible.
- A light tool must be able to withstand heavy loads.
- The handle should be non-slippery and bright.
Which pruner to choose
It is almost impossible to tidy up the garden without a pruner, even if it is quite small. They can trim branches up to 2.5 cm in thickness. Currently, there are two types of secateurs:
Bypass pruner
The most popular type of pruner. Has a concave (support) and convex (working) blade. Works like a scissor. When choosing a bypass pruner, you need to pay attention to the gap - it should not be large. To check the quality, you can cut a sheet of plain paper when buying.
To do the job efficiently, you need to use this type of pruner correctly: the concave blade is always at the bottom, and the convex blade is facing the branch. In this case, the cut will be smooth, and the deformation will affect only the removed part of the branch. The negative point is the "jamming" defect. Copes well with live wood.
Anvil pruner
This type of pruner cuts like an ax. The working blade is wedge-shaped, has a double-sided sharpening, cuts until it hits the anvil. It has a positive quality - it does not have the "jamming" effect.Negative points - because of the wide blade, it is impossible to work in hard-to-reach places, the thickness of the anvil does not allow cutting the branch at its very base. It copes well with dried parts of the tree.
What to look for when buying a secateurs:
- The blade should always be hardened steel, as this will prolong its life. The best option for the garden is a Teflon-coated high carbon steel pruner.
- The ratchet pruner is much more convenient to use. Allows for high-quality pruning of large branches in several stages, which is facilitated by a spring in the mechanism.
- The secateurs should have a comfortable grip that will not slip and rub the surface of the palms. The best materials for the handle are plastic, aluminum with rubber grip, fiberglass reinforced and polyamide.
- It is better to purchase tape-type secateurs with a return spring.
What is the difference between a lopper and a pruner
Below are the distinctive characteristics of these two tools:
- The lopper trims branches in hard-to-reach places. You can trim branches that are too large without using a ladder.
- Most loppers are equipped with handles that can be extended up to several meters.
- The lopper is capable of removing material thicker than 5 cm.
- When working with the pruner, only one hand is involved.
When choosing a lopper, it is important to understand that it contains all the positive sides of the pruner, and these two tools differ only in the length of the handles. Loppers can also be bypass and with anvil, with or without ratchet. In most cases, a well-groomed garden area does not require such a tool as a lopper, sun. work can be done efficiently and with pruning shears.
Garden saw: how to choose
If you need to renovate your garden and you decide to saw down a lot of garden trees, then in such a situation you can not do without a garden saw or a garden hacksaw. This tool is essential for almost any gardener. Many people use hacksaws for cutting trees, but it should be understood that this type is only suitable for dried wood. Pruning fresh branches should be gentle, therefore it is recommended to give preference to a special tool.
There are several types of garden hacksaws:
- Saw straight with a tapered end of the blade
- Curved saw
- Bow-type saw
If you prefer only a high-quality tool, then when buying, pay attention to the following nuances:
- The hacksaw teeth should be more than 0.5-0.7 cm high, with a wider set.
- The blade must be of hardened metal.
- The teeth are specially sharpened so that they can cut in both directions and do not get clogged with sawdust.
- For easy storage, you can buy a folding saw.
- In order for the saw to serve for a long time, it is better to purchase a tool with the ability to replace the blade. These hacksaws are of the professional type, so not everyone will be satisfied with the price.
- The saw blade should not be thin or very thick. If you give preference to a thin hacksaw, then it is possible that it will bend or break. If you give preference to a very thick blade, then at the slightest bevel the hacksaw will jam in the cut.
- The teeth should be frequent.
- The hacksaw handle should be comfortable to grip and not slippery. Better to choose a rubberized grip.
- When choosing a folding saw, be sure to check the handle. It must be working and securely fastened.
In addition to all the listed tools, the gardener's arsenal can be supplemented with:
- Garden knife - will be needed to clean out burrs, irregularities.
- Gardening scissors - help in pruning grapes or hedges.
When buying a tool, it is better to give preference only to proven and high-quality firms. If you buy a cheaper garden knife or saw, no one can guarantee that they will last long enough.If there are any doubts regarding the choice of the tool, it is better to consult with the seller or an experienced gardener.
