The best secateurs make precise and clean cuts, promoting plant health and growth. Whether you're new to gardening or have been green-fingered for years, secateurs are sure to have come up with a garden tool you'll need. These little clippers help to trim down any dead bushes and clean up your plants.
While garden scissors may handle some light pruning tasks, they are not typically designed for cutting thicker branches or woody stems like secateurs are. These handy cutters have a bypass or anvil cutting mechanism, allowing for clean cuts on thicker branches.
Best secateurs at a glance:
This precision pruning is crucial for maintaining the health of plants. It removes dead or damaged growth. By using secateurs, you prevent prevent tearing or crushing of plant tissue. Additionally, the ergonomic design of high-quality secateurs ensures comfortable use; although, if you have a hedge to maintain, we recommend using a power hedge trimmer before hand fatigue sets in.
We've hunted down the best garden secateurs on the market right now. Whether you have a large bushy garden or a small balcony with plants, secateurs are the perfect tool for any modern garden.
Best secateurs
Best premium secateurs
If you're taking your gardening seriously, you may want to invest in these professional, premium secateurs. Slightly more expensive, they're worth the price with a comfortable grip, sharp blade and non-slip handles. Reviewers confirm these can cut up to 3/4" branches and have a sap groove design to avoid any stickiness.
Pros
- Ergonomic non-slip handles
- Premium titanium sleep blade
- Sap groove design
Cons
- Suited to larger hands
| Blade length: | 8 inches |
| Cutting diameter: | 3/4" |
Best top-rated bypass secateurs
These GRÜNTEK secateurs are our top pick for the best bypass secateurs you can get right now. Top-rated on Amazon, they're perfect for dead hanging and pruning with extra-sharp Teflon-coated blades. Reviewers describe them as robust and very well made and state they cut well right out of the box. These are great value for secateurs that are just over £10.
Pros
- Sharp, SK5 Japanese steel
- Great value secateurs
- Ergonomic handle
Cons
- Customers found these fiddly to use
| Blade length: | 48mm |
| Cutting diameter: | 20mm |
Best top-rated anvil secateurs
If you're looking for a pair of anvil secateurs, then these babies are yours. Our top choice for anvil-style secateurs, these Spear & Jackson cutters, have been rated Gold in the Great British Growing Awards 2020. Another SK5 steel bladed option, these are ultra-sharp and non-stick. A great choice for for all modern gardens.
Pros
- PTFE-coated SK5 steel blade
- Ambidextrous locking catch
- Lightweight body
Cons
- Not guaranteed a clean-cut edge
| Blade length: | Not specified |
| Cutting diameter: | 22mm |
Best secateurs for durability
www.argos.co.uk
McGregor Bypass Secateurs' design means that they're strong enough to get through even the toughest branches. Non-stick and a carbon steel blade, these is sure to do a variety of pruning job for you. Whether you're left or right-handed, the soft grip handle is reported to be comfortable to use, even for those with limited hand mobility.
Pros
- Non-stick carbon steel blade
- Lightweight and strong
- Soft grip handle
Cons
- Basic for an experienced gardener
| Blade length: | 50mm |
| Cutting diameter: | 12mm |
Best micro secateurs
Micro-secateurs are made with smaller hands in mind to make it extra easy to prune your garden. These are a strong choice for anyone looking for a lighter tool or has difficulty with dexterity in their hands. This smaller tool's overall length is just 16cm.
Pros
- Carbon steel blade
- Lightweight and comfy
Cons
- Better suited for smaller hands
| Blade length: | Not specified |
| Cutting diameter: | 13mm |
Best wooden-handled secateurs
Another trusted collection, these secateurs from tool specialists Draper are made with stainless steel. Highly resistant to rust, they also have impressive FSC-certified ash handles. One reviewer shared that the wooden handles are built to last and feel very solid, They're precise, and they look good, too.
Pros
- Stainless steel
- FSC-certified wood handle
- Easy to use
Cons
- Customers disappointed by the finish
| Blade length: | Not specified |
| Cutting diameter: | 210mm |
Best powered secateurs
If you prune often, or have a lot of pruning work to get through, you may want to consider investing in a pair of electric secateurs. Whether you’re pruning climbers, trimming hedges, snipping garden wire or cutting back shrubs and twigs, these Bosch EasyPrune cordless secateurs will give you the extra power you need for tougher branches up to 25mm.
Pros
- Perfect for gifting
- Cordless with a long-lasting battery
- Charged by micro-USB cable
Cons
- The first charge is long
| Blade length: | 60mm |
| Cutting diameter: | 25mm |
Best secateurs gift set
If you're looking for a great present for your loved one, these Sophie Allport secateurs will be as well-designed as your garden. Made from ash wood and stainless steel with a canvas bee-patterned pouch for safekeeping and bee detail on the blade, these secateurs are efficient, stylish, and effective. A perfect idea for someone who loves their garden. They're pocket-size at just 10 x 22 x 3cm.
Pros
- Stainless steel blades with top lock
- Tan gold canvas pouch
- Perfect for gifting
Cons
- For smaller hands
| Blade length: | Not specified |
| Cutting diameter: | Not specified |
Best mini secateurs
Kent & Stowemarshallsgarden.com
Kent & Stowe describes its mini Garden Life Secateurs as ideal for hands-on gardening with improved manoeuvrability. This is because of their diminutive dimensions and the fact that, with their lightweight aluminium body, they are 40% lighter than full-size secateurs in the Kent & Stowe portfolio. They may be small, but they still boast premium carbon steel blades with a rust-resistant chrome coating. These have a cutting diameter of 15mm for any green growth. The cutting action is made easier with a 'micro hex grip' for improved control.
Pros
- 40% lighter than alternative secateurs
- Handy built-in string cutter
Cons
- Not to be used on dead wood as that will dull the blades
Verdict: Which are the best secateurs?
If you're serious about tackling some branches, we recommend the Gonicc 8" Professional, which is durable, strong, easy to use and ergonomic. Not only is the blade coated with Antirust oil to prevent corrosion, but you won't have any issues with sap - due to the useful sap groove. This is a premium, drop-forged design. We love it.
Types of secateurs to buy: anvil and bypass
There are two types of secateurs you can buy on the market: anvil and bypass.
Bypass works with cutting action, the same way as using a pair of scissors. It does what it says on the tin because the blades literally 'bypass' each other to make the cut. We recommend these for all-around use and if you're looking for a pair of secateurs to last. Garden Answers writer Geoff Hodges adds: "These are best for pruning live, green growth."
Anvil secateurs work with a crushing action, where the two blades meet each other, which are "lower, broader, blunt" according to Geoff. Therefore, these are better for sturdy branches, stems that are thicker, deadwood and thick bushes.
What to look for when shopping for the best secateurs?
With the help of Garden Answers contributor Geoff Hodges, we have got a definitive list:
Blade Coating - Blades coated with non-stick PT FE are more rust-resistant, therefore making cutting smoother.
Sap Groove - This is a blade that directs sap away from the edge to prevent gumming up.
Cushion Stops - These rubber stops reduce jarring and excess force from causing musculoskeletal problems.
Blade Catch - This holds the blades shut when not in use, to make sure they're safe when transporting and storing. Make sure it isn’t too loose, which would interfere with pruning.
Non-Slip Handle Grips - These prevent the handles from slipping from your hands.
Contoured Handles - Choosing an ergonomic handle will help with grip, movement and cut.
Spring - Make sure to find a strong spring that stays put whilst pruning.
FAQs
What are secateurs?
Secateurs are a staple tool for every and any gardener - from beginner to expert. Also known as hand pruners, they are essentially sharp scissors that you use on plants.
The reason why they're so effective in gardens is that they're strong enough to cut through thicker branches, but also work well on smaller plants and flowers.
They have a curved shape to them, designed with plant branches in mind to cut most effectively. You can see the photo above to see the classic curved blade.
You can also get loppers and shears for your garden, which differ in size and shape.
Secateurs vs. shears: what's the difference?
One of the biggest questions when buying secateurs is the difference between garden shears and secateurs. Are both of them necessary to effectively trim down a garden?
The answer really depends on the size of your garden, what you're looking to do and what your budget is. We would recommend investing in both shears and secateurs to ensure you have the right tools for every job.
The biggest difference between the two is that secateurs are smaller, used for trimming plants and branches, and held in just one hand. Shears are commonly used for larger jobs, used with two hands, and are better if you have hedges, larger plants, and need to cut up bigger amounts of garden waste.
The tell-tale signs to remember? Secateurs are smaller and curved in shape, and shears are large and have long blades to cut more at once. They are really just more precise.
How do I sharpen secateurs?
Geoff Hodges comments on the importance of sharp blades when pruning: "Keep them sharp – just like your best carving knife in the kitchen. Using a blade sharpener before every pruning session makes pruning quicker, easier and keeps plants healthier."
They can be sharpened with a whetstone, diamond tool or sharpening steel.
We recommend this Darlac sharpener.
We recommend this video from the Garden Ninja, Lee Burkhill, for a step-by-step:
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Caitlin Casey is a Senior Writer for Modern Gardens, heat, Closer, and Grazia. She covers shopping, women’s lifestyle, popular culture as well as all things trending.