If you find prolonged use of hedge shears tiring on the hands then my advice is to look at geared models like these Davaon bypass shears. Manual tree pruners are best if you’ll be cutting lots of fresh, live stems and branches . We’re talking bushes, hedges and young trees. In most instances, I recommend looking for pruners that have a cutting diameter of around 2.5cm – this will be suitable for most domestic pruning jobs. With an adjustable handle that can extend from 2.4 – 4 m, this pruner is the longest model featured on this list, and one of the best telescopic tree pruners for reaching higher branches in treetops. Combined with arms-reach, it will be able to access branches approximately 5 – 6 m high. It is really important to clean up the trimmings after trimming box and always make sure your blades are clean and super sharp. Your plants will thank you for it. They are also fairly comfortable to hold, although noticeably less strong when fully extended. There’s a comfortable non-slip foam grip at the end and in the middle of the handle, so it can be operated with two hands.

Doing alternate sides like this means the hedge is still getting plenty of energy which helps with its regrowth. Yew is quite sappy so always give your shears a good clean straight after use with some warm soapy water and a scourer or wire wool. Of course, sharp blades will also help get a great finish. Laurel Maintenance

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Because it is a fast growing hedge Laurel does have a tendency to become too high for a step ladder & manual shears. If you find yourself in that position then I suggest reducing the height first with an extra long telescopic tree pruner. Privet If you also want to use the pruner for some close-range jobs, make sure that its non-extended length is manageable. Extendable pruners tend to be over 1 m long even on their shortest setting, so there may still be jobs that will still require a pair of smaller hand pruners. Whilst these aren’t strictly ‘shears’ in the traditional sense, this Bosch Isio Cordless Shrub and Grass Shear Set features an edging shear and a shrub shear that are battery powered and take the manual work out of hedge cutting.

If you are struggling with having this disease or the caterpillar we have an article on the best box replacement hedges. Final Word from Me They’re a good all-round tool, efficiently cutting bigger hedges as mentioned, whilst being sharp and precise enough to be used for some types of topiary as well. The long 47.3 cm handles make it possible to access different angles, whilst being comfortable to hold in different cutting positions.They are useful to use on grass where a garden strimmer might cause damage and a lawn mower is too large to fit. All of the above are a first-rate set of hedge shears and will (hopefully) give you years of use. My favourite and top of my list is the Fiskars HSX92 hedge clippers.

For most everyday pruning jobs, look for multi-purpose shears with 17 – 20 cm (7 – 8″) blades. These will generally cut through stalks up to 10 mm in diameter without being too unwieldy or heavy. When it comes to using hand hedging shears, which-ever model you choose, always ensure the blades are sharp. Sharp blades will make the task so much easier.

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It’s easy enough to find effective pruners that weigh less than 1 kg. Lightweight telescopic pruners are easier to manage and don’t feel too unwieldy. Given that telescopic pruners are often quite long, they can feel sometimes feel unbalanced – for this reason, it helps if they’re light. Heavier pruners can still be manageable, but you should consider whether you have sufficient upper body strength. Heavier pruners should be used with a shoulder strap for support. Our range of secateurs includes both bypass and anvil designs, offering easy precision cutting for any type of pruning. The blades are suitable for cutting small branches and trimming your plants to encourage new growth. The presence of a motor increases its weight, so it’s not the lightest pruner at 3.8 kg, but there is a shoulder included to help make it more manageable. Whilst the strap does help to some extent, using the RPP750S still requires a fair amount of upper body strength.

Pruning hedges is a tedious job, right? Therefore buying the right hedge shears suited to your budget and purpose is important. You can make light work with the right pair of shears on twigs, stems and bushes. Preferably ones from a renowned manufacturer, decent steel blades,comfortable handles and a super sharp blade. As always, a decent pair of shears with super sharp blades is advisable and a good clean of your shears after trimming is advisable to keep in the best shape and prevent spread of disease. Box (Buxus) When sharpening manual shears (not electric ones) you can also use sharpening steels or whetstones. These will usually require you to manually sharpen one blade at a time.

The best garden shears and secateurs for 2023 are:

Short-handled manual shears are one choice for topiary. As long as they are relatively compact, again not exceeding 60 cm, they’ll give sufficient control for basic shapes on medium/large bushes. They tend to be able to cut stalks up to approximately 5 mm in diameter. Nevertheless, weighing just under 1 kg, it’s one of the best telescopic tree pruners in terms of manageability; not only because it’s easy to hold, but also because it’s well balanced and allows good control whilst pruning. They’re chrome-plated and made from carbon steel, resulting in a high-quality tool that can comfortably cut branches up to 6 mm. In some instances, the blades can cut up to 10 mm. The pole is extendable from 130 cm to 200 cm, and is suitable for both mid-range pruning, and cutting higher up.