Plants, trees and shrubs: Prune it right with these Tools

Pruning is one of the most important things one can do to keep a landscape beautiful. It also promotes tree health and productivity of flowering or fruiting shrubs. A person can become proficient at pruning plants just with some experience and the right tools. In fact, a person mainly needs four tools to take care of pretty much every pruning task in a garden. Here are a few tips to keep in mind while selecting pruning tools for gardening.

A person should always buy the best tools he/she can afford, for they will prove their worth in the long run. High-quality tools remain sharp for longer and cut easier than tools of poor quality.

It’s important to always keep the tools sharpened. A sharp pruner not only cuts easily but also makes a cleaner cut without putting much stress on the hand.

It’s advised to keep the pruning tools clean as a pruning cut on a diseased branch can spread the problem throughout the garden. One should always wipe the blade clean before putting it away.

Key Tools

Hand Pruner: Though gardeners have personal preferences, they should consider the following features in whichever style they choose.

Carbon steel blades sharpen easily and can hold its edges longer than others.

One can keep the pruners functioning longer if it comes with replaceable parts. It is beneficial to purchase pruner with replaceable blades, springs and handle covers. Pruners that are assembled with nuts and bolts, usually have replaceable parts. One can even purchase a screwdriver set online to have everything handy for replacing the parts.

Basically available in two designs – by-pass and anvil, hand pruners come with several features and attributes one should consider before making a purchase. Since pruners come in various sizes, it’s important to hold them in hand before choosing a pair, to make sure the grip feels easily controllable and comfortable. In addition to this, it’s important to check the locks, ergonomics, sharpness and other factors to purchase the right tool.

Lopper: If a person finds the need to use two hands to make a cut with a hand pruner, it’s time to switch to a lopper. Loppers are basically hand pruners with long handles which give the gardener added reach to trim higher branches. Since there are various types of loppers, one should choose a lopper that comes with a comfortable grip and other advantages.

Shears: Shears have been the preferred tools for chopping back the shrubs in front of the house Every homeowner with a garden seems to have a pair of pruning shears in his/her tool shed. These are the best choice to chop and shape shrubs cleanly.

Saws: There are times when nothing works best except a saw. One can change the blades in a saw to suit his/her needs. Generally, tree saws, tri-cut blades, folding saws, and pole and rope saws are used by gardeners. Whether a person chooses any of the pruning tools for gardening, it should be the right fit for one’s requirements.

Summary

There are a number of pruning tools available for gardening, but it’s important to understand one’s specific requirement and budget before making a decision.

There are a number of pruning tools available for gardening, but it’s important to understand one’s specific requirement and budget before making a decision.