EN
ไทย
Customers Also Purchased
The main purpose of Pruning Shears is to prune dead, diseased, or damaged branches and stems from trees and shrubs. Removing dead plant parts is essential because dead branches often attract unwanted insects and harbor diseases. Pruning also strengthens plants and prevents unwanted growth if you want your garden to stay healthy and looking its absolute best.
1. Get Prepared
Before heading out to the garden, have your tools ready. There are many types of pruning shears for different tasks. Bypass pruning shears cut just like regular scissors, cutting cleanly through branches with precision, creating smooth cuts and effectively reducing crushing or tearing of the plant tissue. They are ideal for cuts where preserving living tissue is essential and cut closer to the trunk or base much better than anvil-type blades.
Anvil pruning shears feature a flat base resembling an anvil and an upper blade with a single cutting edge. When cutting force is applied, both blades meet flush together, requiring less effort and cutting branches more easily than bypass shears. Therefore, they are suitable for standard or larger-diameter branches and make cutting dead wood effortless.
2. Unlock the Pruning Shears
Make sure the pruning shears are unlocked. Usually, there is a thumb lock to keep them locked when not in use. To unlock, squeeze the handles firmly and turn the thumb lock slightly counterclockwise, then release the handles. In some cases, the thumb lock may be too tight to turn, so you can try loosening the screw slightly to allow it to move as needed.
3. Hold the handles correctly
Hold pruning shears properly. Holding pruning shears with your fingertips can cause hand fatigue, so you should grip the handles using the heel of your hand and fingers. Pruning requires repetitive hand movements, so choose pruning shears that fit your hand comfortably, especially during prolonged pruning sessions. For example, some pruning shear models are designed to accommodate medium to large hands for both men and women, featuring non-slip ergonomic handles and a vertically inclined cutting head that reduces hand fatigue.
4. Find the right cutting point
For the most precise cut, place the blade exactly where you want to cut. You will often need to use the pruning shears "upside down" or hold them at a different angle to prevent the anvil from touching the stub left on the plant. Cutting this way minimizes damage to the plant, which should be your goal when pruning.
5. Cut at the correct angle
For dead wood, cut straight across the branch. For live wood, cut at a 45-degree angle slightly above a bud. This helps water run off and prevents disease. Cutting this way also helps divert sap away from the bud.
6. Cut carefully
While holding the handles, open the pruning shears completely and place the branch deep into the blade. Once the wood is fully inside the blades, squeeze the handles to close the blades and cut cleanly through the branch in a single quick motion. You might be tempted to cut through wood as if using scissors, but this can strain your hand, dull the blades, and damage the plant.
7. Clean pruning shears
When pruning different types of plants, remember to clean your pruning shears between cuts to prevent spreading disease from one plant to another. Knowing how to clean pruning shears is also essential to keep them in good condition and free from bacteria that could harm plants. Use warm soapy water to wipe down and remove sticky residues such as plant sap.
8. Sharpen and oil before storing
Before storing your pruning shears, consider using a sharpening tool to maintain the blade. In addition to sharpening, use mineral oil or a multipurpose lubricant such as ALCHEMIST or WD40 to wipe down the joints and blades to prevent rust.
- 5 Post-Use Maintenance Tips for Pruning Shears
Pruning can be tricky, but learning how to use Pruning Shears properly will make it much easier. Once you master these basics, your gardening will be easier as well.