| On Saturday I outlined what you need to look for | | | | Another key tip is to make sure the secateurs you |
| when buying hedge shears/clippers. Today I am going | | | | are keen on have a safety latch that is easily |
| to outline what you should look for when buying | | | | engaged and disengaged with one hand. When you |
| secateurs. I had said this would be a three part series | | | | are pruning a plant, if you have to stop and use two |
| but it looks to me now like it will be more, so stay | | | | hands to engage the safety latch it is more likely that |
| tuned. | | | | you won't. A safety latch is only useful if it is likely to |
| When it comes to gardening you really won't get far | | | | be put to use. |
| without a good pair of secateurs. But what makes | | | | Try and look for secateurs with plastic covered |
| secateurs good? What should you look for when you | | | | metal handles. Metal handles are strong but are cold |
| are shopping for secateurs? One thing many | | | | to work with and plastic handles are a sign of cheap |
| gardeners don't know is that there are actually three | | | | manufacturing and are not likely to last as well as |
| different kinds of secateurs, Anvil, Bypass and Parrot | | | | metal handles. |
| Beak. Very quickly, Anvil secateurs have an upper | | | | There are three different blade types, stainless steel, |
| blade which pushes down onto a flat lower 'anvil'. | | | | coated steel and carbon steel. My preference is for |
| Parrot Beak secateurs have two blades which cut by | | | | stainless steel but carbon steel works well two. Either |
| meeting together in the middle and looks like a | | | | of these kinds will stay the sharpest for longer |
| parrot's beak. The third kind of secateurs is called | | | | periods of time. The only real upside to coated steel |
| Bypass secateurs. They work by having two blades | | | | is that it cleans more easily. Cleaning your secateurs |
| which bypass each other in a similar way to scissors. | | | | after use is extremely important but having blades |
| The big difference between Bypass and Parrot Beak | | | | that remain sharp are better for the job at hand. |
| secateurs is the shape of the blades, with Parrot | | | | The general rule of thumb with secateurs is, |
| Beak having two identical blades compared to Bypass | | | | strangely enough, don't try cutting plant limbs that |
| which has one large and one small blade, the large | | | | are thicker than your thumb. If you try and cut limbs |
| blade being convex in shape and the small blade being | | | | that are too thick you will damage the blade and |
| concave in shape. Bypass secateurs are the main | | | | therefore your tool that you have invested in will not |
| type used and sold and will be the focus of this | | | | last as well for as long. |
| entry. | | | | Prices range from $5-$10 at the cheap end right up |
| When buying secateurs there are a few things to | | | | to $150-$200. Again for a household gardener I'd say |
| consider. One of the most important things to check | | | | a you could probably get a pair that will work OK for |
| out is how they feel in your hand. When you are out | | | | $20-$40 but a good pair at around $50 may well last |
| shopping pick up a few pairs and see how they feel. | | | | you a decade or more. My Grandma had a pair that I |
| Feel for weight, feel for grip. Most secateurs handles | | | | know was much older than I was when I was 10, |
| will be shaped with little divots for your fingers to go | | | | good tools well looked after last a while. |
| in, find the pair whose divots best fit your hand. | | | | Good luck with your shopping for secateurs! |