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Best secateurs for pruning your garden
We put secateurs to the test to see which is the best for pruning and also comfortable to use
Good secateurs are an essential part of your gardening toolkit. A well-designed pair will have sharp blades and comfortable handles that allow you to keep continually pruning without getting a painful hand.
However, there is a huge range of secateurs to choose from, with widely ranging prices, so it’s difficult to know which pair to choose.
The gardeners at Capel Manor College put 29 popular models to the test to help you make the best selection.
The best secateurs from our test
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| Model | Where to buy | Overall score | RH/LH/Both | Weight (g) | Ease of cut | Precision | Comfort | Easy to open and close | Ease of maintenance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ARS VS-8XZ Professional Secateurs Medium | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50022294 | m | m | m | m | m | m | m | m |
| Darlac Compact Pruner | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50022298 | m | m | m | m | m | m | m | m |
| Darlac Professional Left-hand Pruner | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50022302 | m | m | m | m | m | m | m | m |
| Felco Model 2 Large Standard Right-handed Secateurs | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50017197 | m | m | m | m | m | m | m | m |
| Fiskars Solid Bypass Secateurs | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50022304 | m | m | m | m | m | m | m | m |
| Kent & Stowe SureCut Lite Bypass | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50022303 | m | m | m | m | m | m | m | m |
| Niwaki Mainichi | Crocus, £43 | m | m | m | m | m | m | m | m |
| Okatsune 103 Bypass | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50014423 | m | m | m | m | m | m | m | m |
| Wilkinson Sword Razorcut Comfort Medium Bypass Pruner | SQUIRREL_TEXT_50022305 | m | m | m | m | m | m | m | m |
| Wolf-Garten Comfort Plus Bypass Secateurs RR2500 | World of Wolf, £20 | m | m | m | m | m | m | m | m |
USING THE TABLE The more stars the better. RH/LH/Both refers to whether the secateurs are designed to be used by right-handed or left-handed gardeners. Where we’ve marked it as both, the secateurs can be used by all gardeners. OVERALL SCORE Ignores price and is based on: comfort during prolonged use 25%; ease of cut 20%; precision 20%; how easy to open/close 20%; how easy to keep clean/sharp 15%.
What to look for in secateurs
- Lookalikes It might be tempting to buy a pair of secateurs that look like a more expensive brand, but we found the quality control on imitation ones didn’t live up to our Best Buys.
- Left-handed gardeners If you’re left-handed, look for a pair of secateurs specifically designed for you, as the catch and blades will be aligned to make it much easier to use.
- Catch position Most testers preferred secateurs with catches on the side or end of the handles. The team found catches located on the top of the secateurs problematic.
- Handle grip Check the grip of the secateurs and make sure it feels comfortable in your hand. Some handles can be cold or slippery or get dirty easily, so consider whether you’d prefer to wear gloves when using them.
- Cutting ability All our Best Buys cut cleanly, but we found that some secateurs often bent stems instead of cutting them.
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How to care for your secateurs
- Cleaning after use Secateurs can quickly get clogged up with green, sappy debris. They can also become coated in a film of sap. It’s worth cleaning this off regularly with wire wool, as well as disinfecting the blades with a weak solution of household disinfectant. Dry the blades afterwards to stop them getting rusty.
- Lubricating the blades Use an oily cloth to keep your secateurs lubricated. Another idea is to invest in a can of lubricant spray containing Teflon. Available at bike shops for around £5, this should help prevent debris from collecting in the mechanism.
- Sharpening The blades of your secateurs will become blunt over time. With bypass secateurs, you should sharpen only the slanting side of the top blade. Better brands, such as Felco and Niwaki, offer sharpening services, so while they may be more expensive initially, they will last for life.
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How we tested secateurs
We tested 29 pairs of widely available bypass secateurs, including some left-handed and compact models.
The secateurs were tested by 15 gardeners with a wide range of hand sizes in the grounds of Capel Manor College.
Each pair was tested by two people on a variety of woody and herbaceous material.