Best Hedge Shears: Guide & Recommendations
Shearing hedges by hand can be a tedious business, especially if your shears are not up to the task. Having the best tool can make all the difference! Continue Reading
Hand Tools
Fiskars PowerGear II Hedge Shears (HS551): Product Review
The Fiskars PowerGear II hedge shears is a low-end, mid-priced tool with several problems, including blade slippage and extra weight, that make it tiring to use. Continue Reading
Fiskars Ratchet Action Anvil Pruner: Product Review
The Fiskars Ratchet Action Anvil Pruner can make clean cuts through ½ or less and can easily cut through ¾ inch deadwood and mesquite, although cuts through larger diameter wood aren’t as clean. We had problems with the lock position (it pinches your hand) but appreciated the squeeze-to-open feature. Continue Reading
Bahco Super Light Professional Hedge Shears (P54-SL-25): Product Review
The Bahco Super Light Professional hedge shear (P54-SL-25) is a sturdy and well-designed tool that’s easy to use. Overall, it’s a good all-purpose pair of hedge shears that will last a lifetime. Continue Reading
Corona Hedge Shear (AH 6940): Product Review
The Corona Hedge Shear AH 6940 is a good, solid tool, built to last, and priced about right at about $45 to $60. But it is not as easy or as fun to use as lighter weight models. Continue Reading
Gardena Comfort Gear Hedge Clippers 600 (393): Product Review
The Gardena Comfort Gear Hedge Clipper is a good tool, fun and easy to use for light hedge trimming, but probably not worth the premium price tag it carries in the United States. Continue Reading
Corona ComfortGEL+ Extendable Hedge Shears (HS 4344): Product Review
The Corona ComfortGEL+ Extendable HS 4344 is a great tool for the money. Durable-looking, strong, and employing innovative technology, it does tough jobs well. It’s a little on the heavy side which may limit the time you spend shearing your hedges. Continue Reading
ARS 26-inch Professional Hedge Shears (HS-KR1000): Product Review
Although these shears cost more than other brands, if you do even a modest amount of shearing regularly, the extra cost is well worth the quality you get! The blades stay sharp, true to the manufacturer’s claim, and the elegant lightweight design make them literally fun to use. Continue Reading
ARS LongReach Pruner (180LR-1.8): Product Review
This lightweight stick-style pruner makes very clean cuts and is easy to use. Comfortable handles, a slip-resistant grip and a hook on the back of the cutting head are nice additions. The one down-side is the locking mechanism that doesn’t fully close the blades. Continue Reading
Corona ComfortGEL Anvil Pruner: Product Review
The Corona ComfortGEL Anvil pruner makes beautifully clean cuts through both live and dead branches up to ¾ inch in diameter (although it’ll take some hand strength to get through wood that thick). It’s less effective with softer and thinner material. It has comfortable gel handles and a bumper to absorb shock. Overall, it’s a very good cutting tool for hard, thick stems, particularly at this price point and for gardeners with larger hands. Continue Reading
Florian Ratchet-Cut Anvil Pruner: Product Review
This is an excellent all-around pruning tool that cuts cleanly through up to ¾-inch branches. The smooth ratchet action and super-sharp cutting blade, as well as ultra light weight and strength, make this the only hand pruner you’ll ever need. Continue Reading
Gardena StarCut 160 BL Tree Pruner: Product Review
When I first encountered the StarCut 160 BL I thought it looked a little clunky. It was the large cutting head that drew most of my attention. But the more time I spent using it, the more I liked its great cutting power - although there were also some drawbacks to the design, particularly for the rotating head. Continue Reading
Fiskars Pruning Stik Tree Pruner (5’) – Model #9234: Product Review
How do you prune branches and limbs that are just out of reach that would either require a ladder or a full-fledged extendable pole pruner to get the job done? Or conversely, how would you reach into a shrub and prune it to ground level? You use a stick-style pruner. We tested the Pruning Stik from Fiskars in some of the toughest pruning conditions. It has a rotating and locking cutting head, is "ropeless," and Continue Reading
DynaSteam DS1600 Steam Weeder: Product Review
Have you tried killing weeds with steam? It can be very effective under certain conditions. The DynaSteam DS1600 Steam Weeder is easy to use, lightweight, and with the additional attachments would be very useful for other chores. But there are also some limitations to what it can do against weeds in your garden. Continue Reading
Corona ComfortGEL+ Extendable Bypass Lopper: Product Review
The Corona ComfortGEL+ Bypass Lopper lived up to its reputation as a top-of-the-line lopper, capable of tackling the toughest pruning jobs. This is not a tool for everyone due to its weight and handle grip size. But for those who need an extremely durable lopper with extendable handles and awesome cutting power, this is a tool that I would highly recommend. Continue Reading