Tree Pruning Options You Can Surely Take

Bypass secateurs are familiar to everyone. They are used to trim living branches. Bypass pruning shears are like a bird’s beak. One of them is sharp, the second supporting usually wide or with a notch. It is designed so that the branch lies on a flat surface and is securely fixed. At this point, a sharp blade cuts it. The most favorable position in the process of work the supporting blade is located below and the worker looks at the branch. In the case of Tree pruning this is important.

Important: Before buying, check the tool on a piece of paper. He should cut it well, not chew it. There should not be a large gap under the blade.

Secateurs with anvil

It is needed to trim dry branches. Unlike bypass scissors, pruning shears are cut like an ax. A working sharp blade will work until it abuts against the opposite plate the anvil. The branch most likely splits between flat and sharp blades. Anvils do not provide respect for the tree, so you cannot work with such secateurs as living branches.

What else to look for when choosing a pruner

Performance and durability depend on the material of the blades. Most are made of stainless steel with chrome, nickel or Teflon coating. Blades made of high carbon or hardened steel are considered ideal. They will last for several years without sharpening.

The presence of a ratchet mechanism: Such a system turns out to be a place when there is not enough strength to cut on a thick branch at a time. The spring returns the handle of the tool to its original position, and the blades remain where they were. The next time you press the handle, the pruner continues cutting, plunging deeper into the wood. As a result, the branch is cut in several stages without jamming.

Optimum materials for the secateurs handle are polyamide, plastic with rubber pads or fiberglass reinforced. They do not rub their hand and protect against the appearance of corns. The presence of a belt return spring. It is considered more reliable and lasts longer than a spiral wire.

Loppers

In fact, the delimbers are the same pruner, only with elongated handles. Therefore, it is easy for novice gardeners to confuse these two types of equipment. Loppers are used for thinning and shaping the crown, as well as for health trimming. They are indispensable for pruning branches from 30 to 50 mm thick, especially those located in hard-to-reach places deep in the crown or at height.

Similarities and differences between secateurs and delimbers

As for the types of delimbers, they coincide with the types of secateurs. You can find bypasses for live branches or with an anvil for dry ones, with or without ratchet gear. Accordingly, the selection criteria also coincide.

But there are significant differences:

Firstly, both hands are always involved during the operation of the delimbers, which cannot be said about the pruner.

Secondly, the handle of the delimbers is longer, which provides greater cutting power.

Thirdly, in the lineup of delimbers you can find high- cutters. They are equipped not with two handles, but with one telescopic bar, which extends several meters.

Cutters are used for high-altitude work. For example, to form a crown of a tree 6 meters high, you will have to arm yourself with a ladder and a couple of secateurs, as well as good coordination and courage.