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Garden shears

If you literally want to get your garden in shape, it's best to use secateurs. They can be used to cut roses and other flowers, prune shrubs and perennials and prune trees. Shoots and branches are quickly shortened and trimmed with little effort. You will find the small and handy shears in different versions in our range. The blades of the shears in our shop are all made of high-quality steel. You should be aware that there are differences between bypass pruning shears and anvil pruning shears and that each pair of pruning shears has its own advantages and disadvantages.

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Garden shears

EXPERT KNOWLEDGE GARDEN SHEARS

What is the difference between bypass and anvil pruning shears?

With pruning shears, a basic distinction is made between bypass and anvil shears. Depending on the use in the garden, it makes sense to switch between the two types of scissors.


Bypass pruning shears have two sharp blades and therefore have a double-edged action. Soft, thin and fresh wood can be cut through particularly well with bypass shears. They are therefore best suited to shrubs or bushes with thin shoots. The bypass shears work precisely and produce a smooth, clean cut. Crushing of the plant tissue can usually be avoided with them. Their biggest disadvantage is the greater effort required.


Advantages:

  • Precise, smooth cut
  • Particularly suitable for pruning green wood

Disadvantages:

  • Greater effort required


In contrast to bypass shears, anvil shears only have a single sharp cutting edge. When dividing a plant, this cutting edge meets a blunt and rigid counterpart, the so-called anvil. You can easily cut through dry, robust wood with these scissors thanks to the solid anvil. This does not require too much effort. However, as the anvil shears are not equipped with two blades, the cut is less precise. The cut material can be easily crushed as a result. Lap injuries can therefore not be ruled out.


Advantages:

  • Good power transmission
  • Particularly suitable for pruning dead wood

Disadvantages:

  • Cuttings are easily crushed during cutting
  • Bark damage possible


Most bypass shears work according to the pulling cut principle, with the exception of thinning shears. With this type of shears, a slim blade shape is desired, which is difficult to achieve with a curved blade. Plant parts that are pruned with thinning shears usually have a small diameter where the cutting force plays a subordinate role.



Anvil scissors mainly use straight blades, as the anvil can be made more solid with this design.

What handles are available for secateurs?

In addition to the different types of pruning shears, you should also pay attention to choosing the right handle. If you work with pruning shears for hours on end, it may be worth choosing an ergonomic handle. Otherwise, you may end up with sore spots or even painful blisters on your hands.


For intensive use of the secateurs and for cutting a number of branches, roller handles are sometimes the best choice. The lower handle of these scissors is not fixed. Instead, it rotates when the scissors are opened. The advantage of this mechanism is that the friction of the handle on the skin is reduced.


Many secateurs are also equipped with two-component handles. As the name suggests, such a handle consists of two different components. These are usually a slightly harder and a softer plastic. The combination of these two components is intended to provide a better grip.


Some rose scissors, which come in the shape of anvil scissors, have a so-called toggle lever ratchet mechanism. The lever transmission of these models ensures less effort is required when cutting branches and other plant material. Cutting takes place in several stages. You squeeze the handle several times, with the scissors cutting a little further through the material each time.

What other criteria are important when buying?

The type of handle is not the only criterion you should consider when buying garden shears, apart from their Intended use. The Total length of the Scissors and their manoeuvrability are also important.


Before buying, think about where your secateurs will primarily be used. If you need to reach distant branches or shrubs, you should choose Scissors that are longer. Otherwise, it will be difficult to reach hidden areas without damaging other plants. Particularly long scissors have Total lengths of 700 mm to well over 1 metre.


To avoid putting unnecessary strain on your wrist, you should also avoid choosing shears that are too heavy. Light garden shears are available from around 200 g. However, there are also larger pruning shears that weigh 1 kg or even more. Work with heavy secateurs in moderation to avoid tiring your wrists.

How do I sharpen my secateurs?

Proper care is required to keep the blades of your secateurs sharp and prevent rust. After each use, thoroughly remove any plant debris and soil residue with a metal brush. You can then dry your scissors well with a cotton cloth. If resin residues and sticky tree sap still adhere to the secateurs, the specially developed Barnel cleaning spray "B Clean" for secateurs will help. After cleaning, you should rub the secateurs with some rust protection oil - to neutralise the cleaning spray and of course to protect against rust - for example with Sinensis camellia oil. You should also find a dry place to store them.


If you want to sharpen your secateurs, first dismantle all parts and clean them individually. The blades can then be passed over a Grinding stones moistened with water. Once you have run the Grinding stones over the cutting edges several times, you can dry your Scissors completely and reassemble them for reuse.

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