How to choose a secateurs
The tool consists of several elements - working blades, a return spring, a handle, a lock and fasteners (nuts and bolts).
Appointment
There is pruning shears trees and for pruning. It is used in floristry, landscaping, harvesting and fruit tree care. This tool is needed for seasonal removal of branches and shoots in order to rejuvenate plants. It can be divided into 3 types - amateur, semi- and professional. To work with flowers, models with a cutting diameter of up to 20 mm are sufficient, but for bushes and trees more "biting" options are needed.
Mechanism
The most inexpensive models are with a traditional mechanism, that is, scissors. They are suitable for pruning thin branches and stems from flowers, shrubs and trees. More powerful ratchet option to reduce hand strain. Such tools allow you to remove shoots in a few clicks without much effort. These options are especially relevant with a cut diameter of up to 3 cm.
The second type of mechanism for secateurs is a spring one, which is the most common in garden tools. It is used for one-time trimming due to a single hand pressing. This ensures a safe cut and saves time. Also, these models do not injure trees and shrubs, minimizing various diseases.
Blade type
There are 2 types of blades. Planar cutting elements are offset in relation to each other and filigree cuts raw wood. They are arranged as follows: the upper knife is sharp (it is also a working one), the lower one is a supporting one, blunted to fix the branches. They are mainly used to remove dry, dead stems, but can also be used for green, young shoots.
Compared to flat pruning shears, contact pruners have 2 equally well-sharpened cutting elements. They are preferred for the removal of dry branches as they have a breaking action rather than a shearing action. Such a tool works like an ax. He also has one working knife, but the knives open to the maximum and therefore he manages to get rid of the thick branches up to 3 cm.
Pens
Most often the handles are made of aluminum. For a comfortable grip, they should be equipped with rubber pads that prevent the palms from slipping and increase the level of safety. Some models have finger loops for a more secure fit. For expensive scissors, this part may be covered with wood, but it is not very convenient to hold them in your hand for a long time.
To say for sure which garden pruner is better, it must be said that there are one- and two-handed models. The most convenient ones are those that can be held in one palm. This will allow you to lean your free hand on the ladder when working at height. However, they may require more effort from the user. If you need to work at a certain distance from the branches, you will need telescopic handles.
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How to choose?
Before purchasing this item, each gardener must decide for himself which trees to work with. If you need to cut a small bush or young tree, then the planar option is perfect. No physical strength is required here, the structure will do everything by itself. Old trees with a hard crown are cultivated with contact pruners. They allow you to make a neat cut without damaging the bark.
Before purchasing, you should consider who will use the unit.Men usually do not care what weight or size the lopper has, but for the fairer sex and the elderly, this moment is a very important selection criterion. Also check the insulation of the holder.
Description of features
In fact, a pole pruner is the same garden shears, only with a longer handle and the ability to use a drive mechanism. This is the largest garden cutter, although some are not overly bulky.
Conventionally, poles are divided into two main types: rod and conventional high-rise. The main difference between them is the length of the handle, which in the latter case allows you to cut the highest branches without significant effort.
In addition, the extended handle helps to reduce the stress on the tool itself, which means you can easily handle the job.
Pole-cutters can also be divided into types depending on the location of the blades: with parallel installed (bypass) and abutting surface (anvil). In the first case, we are talking about a tool with two blades, one of which looks like a hook and holds the branch during cutting.
Its ends can be very different: curved, straight, or both curved and straight. Anvil loppers have one well-sharpened blade, and the other acts as a normal support, but does not cut.
The two types are united by the presence of an adjustment screw, and in the latest models there is also another screw that allows you to move the lower part or replace it.
Did you know? The ancestor of the modern lopper was the common garden pruner, invented in France in 1815. At first, it was intended exclusively for pruning the vine, because the cut was very neat, and the scar healed quickly.
The performance level of the tool will depend on the power of the engine.
The main features of loppers include:
- manual or mechanical trigger;
- the presence of a rod, which allows you to perform the artistic formation of the crown of a tree (distinguish between a collapsible, one-piece or telescopic rod);
- high power characteristics, thanks to which even the thickest branches can be cut;
- anti-vibration system;
- ergonomics of the whole structure;
- the choice of starting the lopper: manual or automatic.
Of course, each model can have its own design features that will distinguish it from the rest. Consider several options for the tool, depending on the type of drive.
