6 Best Gardening Secateurs for 2024 | Australian Guide

What Are the Best Secateurs? 

Pruning shears come in a variety of styles and materials, so there are plenty of options for you to choose from. Secateurs should be short handled and easily managed by one hand. 

There will always be a spring between the handles and safety catch with which to lock your shears. The best kinds allow you to lock one handed with ease.

In terms of materials, the most important aspect is to look at the composition of the blades.

Modern blades come in three different types: 

• Stainless Steel
• Coated Steel
• Carbon Steel

All three blade types work well to sharp for long periods of time. However, coated steel is recommended as it is the easiest to clean and maintain.

The Different Types of Secateurs

When it comes to pruning secateurs, you need not only consider the type of blade material, but also the shapes and mechanism in which the blades move. 

The most common types of secateurs are bypass, anvil and parrot beak. 

Bypass Secateurs

Bypass secateurs are of the most popular on market today. Based on the scissor action the blades don’t necessarily need to be ultra sharp – just well-aligned. The blades themselves are shaped much like a bird’s beak and that’s not where the similarity ends.

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Mimicking nature, the blades remain in constant contact with the plant material throughout the complete action. So, you end up with a cleaner, straighter cut that is less likely to result in wounding the plant and allowing disease to enter.

The action of using bypass pruners is actually easier on the hands as well because the leveraging from the blades does most of the work for you. These are great for pruning shrubs and general everyday use. 

Anvil Secateurs

Anvil secateurs offer a far stronger but messier cut. With this variety a sharp blade cuts into an anvil, which provides a lot of power in the cut. If you picture an axe hitting an anvil you will understand the way anvil pruners work.

This type of garden shear is not the most useful in many gardens but has a specific purpose when cutting away deadwood. The blade on this tool needs to remain sharp and will take some maintaining to keep it that way.

However, when it is, the anvil pruner can effortlessly cut away deadwood where bypass pruners may struggle. The rolcut pruner is probably one of the best examples of an anvil pruner but it also has the adaptation of blades that draw back and forth like a saw. These are great dead wood and larger branches. 

Parrot Beak Secateurs

This variety of pruning shears is quite similar to the bypass secateurs. However, parrot beak secateurs have concave shaped blades which allow you easier access to trickier cuts.

This is a great option when cutting between narrow stems. The main difference between anvil and bypass blades are how they interact and cut.

Your choice will depend on your gardening needs. Should you need a tool for bigger cuts, choose anvil secateurs. If you need a blade for all-round use, consider a bypass or parrot beak blade. While the word "secateurs" may not immediately bring to mind flower shears and bonsai shears, it is important to highlight these tools for their unique and specific purposes.

Flower Shears

If you’ve ever tried to deadhead a mop of coreopsis you instantly realise that a pair of utility garden shears are more effort than they’re worth. After contemplating hedging the whole plant, removing the living and the dead, you come to your senses and think of other tools which might be more practical.

Fortunately, our gardening forefathers have pioneered this area already. Flower shears or scissors are the ultimate deadheading tool. They are designed to be easily manoeuvred in your hand while deftly plying each dead bloom away from a neighbourly flower.

There are many types of flower shears from long-handled ones with similar sized blades to more ergonomic varieties offering a more comfortable fit. Flower shears are a definite requirement for the gardener who is keen to produce many flowering plants.

Bonsai Shears

For the bonsai enthusiast, using a pair of scissors or your garden shears may have helped you start. However, they soon become tedious to use when the intricacies of bonsai or ikebana are realised.

Bonsai shears are designed with fatter blades to help guide the pruner around the plant without accidentally snipping off an important branch. Their scissor action is similar to garden shears and hand pruners ensuring that the cut is straight, and the branch does not get crushed.

This type of garden shear needs to be strong enough to cut through age-old boughs, roots and still remain agile in the hands of a bonsai gardener.

Features to Look Out for Before Purchasing Secateurs

Whichever material or style you are looking at for your garden shears, you’ll want to look at certain considerations that will ensure the cleanest cuts and tool longevity. 

Before you make your purchase consider the following: 

• Blades. You’ll want to find sharp blades that can offer clean cuts with minimal physical pressure or exertion. 
  
  
• Blade Cut Diameter. It’s always a good idea to check your blade cut diameter. Smaller garden shears will have a smaller diameter. Your average blade cut diameter should be between 10 to 30 mm. 
  
  
• Weight. You obviously will want to consider a lightweight option especially for continual use. More robust, heavy-duty models will be heavier, but you still want them light enough not to strain the hands and arms. 
  
  
• Replaceable Blades & Springs. This is just a nice aspect to have as it means you are able to keep your garden shears for years and are able to simply replace the blades when they begin to blunt. 
  
  
• Divots for Fingers. Some handles will have ergonomic divots for your fingers which will improve the comfort of use. 

Other fancy feature you may find include: 

• Shock Absorbers
• Sap Groove
• Oil Sponge
• Revolving Handle
• Dual Safety Locks

1. Draper 85188 Bypass Secateurs

Draper proves that just because something is old-fashioned, doesn’t mean it doesn’t work. The cool stainless steel handles of these retro-looking secateurs are the sort of tool that makes you feel good. 

They’re surprisingly comfortable to use and if, like me, you use your gardening tool daily, you’ll quickly find that the wooden handles shape to you and wear down. It sounds unideal, but you’ll end up with a pair of secateurs for life.

The real sign of quality here though is the spring. There’s nothing budget, or after-thought, about these secateurs. Every single part of them has been considered to produce a tool that is both beautiful and useful.

2. Hoselink Ratchet Pruners

Hoselink’s locking ratchet secateurs are super simple to use, and have a gripping lower jaw, which prevents branches and twigs from slipping during each cut.

The gripping section actually helps to prevent many of the issues associated with ratchet secateurs, which are easier to use, and better for gardeners with poor grip, but do have a habit of bruising soft stems, and damaging young wood.

These Hoselink products are a great option for anyone who isn’t comfortable using traditional by-pass secateurs and wants to avoid unnecessary plant bruising.

3. Hoselink Pink Secateurs

These gorgeous pink secateurs from Hoselink are about as basic as it comes but without the shaky manufacturing of some slightly more budget options.

Their simple concertina spring is reliable, and secure, while the bypass blades are well-sharpened and easy to maintain.

The grip is a little bit uncomfortable, but the rubberized handles do provide a sturdy hold.

4. Spear & Jackson 6659TITAN Bypass Secateurs

Sometimes, old-fashioned tools are great, and sometimes, there’s a reason they changed… Spread & Jackson are great at making familiar tools, but I wish they’d reconsider the rubberised handles of these secateurs. 

Everything about them is great and works perfectly, but if you’re out in the garden, in the summer heat, pruning, deadheading, and just generally going about your business, there’s nothing more uncomfortable than rubber-handled tools.

They get sweaty and cause blisters, and you end up frustrated having done half a job. If you’re happy with the handles, they are a very effective pair of secateurs, but we’d recommend wearing gloves to stay comfortable.

5. Bahco P121-20-F Bypass Secateurs

I’m usually a fan of steel handles garden tools. They’re much more comfortable than they look, and tend to have a better weighting. These steel-handled bypass secateurs from Bahco though, just don’t feel quite right.

That said, every gardener is different, and just because they don’t work for me, doesn’t mean they won’t work for you, but consider the handle shape, and think about how it will feel over long-term use.

For a pair of Bahco secateurs though, these are great value, very well made, and self-sharpening, so you get everything you’d expect from a reliable manufacturer. It’s just a case of comfort.

6. Bahco P138-22-F Steel Anvil Secateurs

Anvil secateurs are great for tough jobs, but they bruise soft-stemmed plants and can encourage fungal problems. If you’re after anvil secateurs, these are a genuinely brilliant pair, but they aren’t good for deadheading, vegetable pruning, or quickly tidying the garden.

For trimming out dead growth from woody shrubs, or reducing brambles, these are possibly the best pair of anvil secateurs on the market.

I’m quite happy to admit that I’ve fallen in love with these wooden handled secateurs from Draper. They look good, they feel good, and they work perfectly. I literally cannot fault them. If you’re in the market for a new pair of secateurs and want tools that you’ll keep for life, this is the best possible choice. 

Treat yourself or a gardening friend, and buy something that will be truly appreciated and last forever.

Garden Secateurs Care & Maintenance

Your garden secateurs will last longest when kept sharp, clean and well oiled. Proper maintenance is so important as it will also ensure the effectiveness of your garden shears. 

Be sure to clean metal parts of your garden secateurs after use. Cleaning with fine wire wool will help to remove any leftover sap or residue which can clog shear mechanisms.

Consider sharpening your blade every 4 to 6 months. This should be done at an angle to optimize blade sharpness. Oil your shears regularly to keep mechanisms well lubricated. You can apply a linseed oil to the oil and shaft of your shears. 

Secateurs Frequently Asked Questions

Which brand of secateurs is best?

Fiskars, and Spear & Jackson produce the most reliable secateurs, but some premium brands like Kent and Stowe produce secateurs that are both effective to use and beautiful to look at. Like anything in the garden, beauty has to be part of the equation, so don’t shy away from buying tools that you actually enjoy using.

What is the difference between anvil and bypass secateurs?

Anvil secateurs cut down onto a base plate, creating a symmetrical cut. Bypass secateurs can cut faster and with less effort, by passing one sharp blade past a fixed plate, or ‘bypassing’ it in a single motion.

Both types of secateurs are useful in the garden, but bypass secateurs are generally easier to find.

Are pruners the same as secateurs?

Secateurs and pruners are not interchangeable terms, but people often refer to secateurs as pruners. Pruners simply refers to any sharp pruning tools, from hedge shears to electric trimmers and tree saws.

What are anvil secateurs used for?

Anvil secateurs have a sharp cutting blade that presses down with force onto a base plate. That plate is usually made from carbon steel and can make cutting through greenwood easier, with less risk of breaking the tool.

However, anvil secateurs will bruise the stem and are less useful than bypass secateurs for pruning living plant materials.

What are big secateurs called?

Long handled, or big, secateurs are called loppers. They are stronger than secateurs and capable of cutting thicker branches, but are harder to carry around. I would generally advise having both in hand for tree pruning work.

How do you sharpen anvil secateurs?

Sharpening anvil secateurs regularly is important, especially if you are using them to cut through living plants. The sharper the blade, the less they will bruise your plants. To sharpen them, use a sharpening block or whetstone and pass it on both sides of the blade in the same direction.

What are Japanese secateurs?

Japanese secateurs are smaller, more delicate secateurs with a simple spring mechanism. They are ideal for lighter pruning work and deadheading flowering plants thanks to their lightweight, and sharp blades.

Do secateurs need sharpening?

Secateurs of all types and designs need sharpening regularly, and once a year as an absolute minimum. Sharpening your secateurs blades regularly helps them to last longer, produce cleaner cuts, and will help to clean gum and sap from their blades which can be damaging to other trees and shrubs.

What do you oil secateurs with?

Secateurs should be regularly cleaned and oiled to preserve them and make them more effective in the garden. While you can use pretty much any machine oil or bike oil to lubricate them, the most cost-effective solution is just simple vegetable oil from the kitchen which works just as well for a fraction of the price.

How do you sterilise secateurs?

If you’ve pruned out any dead, damaged or diseased timber you’ll need to clean and sterilise your secateurs. Sterilise your secateurs using a solution of bleach and warm water. Add dish soap to aid the cleaning process and speed things along.

What are ratchet secateurs?

Ratchet secateurs are not to everyone’s taste, but they are great for tough branches, especially if you have a poor grip. They use a simple ratcheting motion to maintain a grip on tree branches, so each squeeze tightens them until they cut.

Like anvil secateurs they can bruise stem tissue, but they are useful tools to make gardening accessible to all.

How thick can secateurs cut?

Secateurs will usually give an indication on their packet, or sometimes printed onto the handle, of how thick they can cut. For most, this will be about 1 cm, but there are some great bypass secateurs that can handle tougher jobs with a little more force.

For more gardening tool reviews related to trimming and pruning, check out our list below: 

• Hedge Shears
• Loppers
• Bow Saw
• Pruning Saw
• Electric Pruning Saw
• Electric Pole Saw