Pruners can, surprisingly, get pretty expensive. And it seems like the jump from a reasonably-priced pair to expert-level secateurs occurs with little middle ground. If you’re an average gardener who just needs a general set of pruners to keep your plants tidy and grab some stems from a cut flower garden, then opt for this budget-friendly Fiskars pair.
I’ve been using these pruners almost weekly for about two years now to do basic pruning jobs. They’re mainly used for trimming stems on store-bought flowers for arrangements (usually hydrangeas), but I also grab them to use outside every now and then, cutting everything from roses to hydrangeas to gardenias and more. No, they’re not the fanciest pair of pruners on the market, and I don’t expect them to cut through wood much thicker than my well-developed oak leaf hydrangeas, but they get the job done.
Even when cutting those mature hydrangea stems, these pruners cut in one quick and easy motion, leaving a clean line to protect the health of my plants. Truthfully, I’m a pretty negligent gardener, so I’ve never bothered to sharpen my pruners, but they still cut cleanly and effectively.
Having tried out a few more expensive brands, I can say that these pruners definitely feel a bit bulkier. The handles are thicker and the pruners themselves are heavier. This might bother you if you spend hours in the garden pruning, but for someone who just needs to grab a pair for some quick cuttings like me, it’s not a big deal.
Pruner type: Bypass | Cut capacity: 5/8 inches | Size: 9.07 x 2.47 inches | Weight: 10.4 oz | Material: Steel