Quick Summary
It’s a new year, so that means its time to get those gardens barbeque ready! So now its time to tame those winter shrubs and get them ready to show off.
But when it comes to buying garden shears, where do you even start looking? Especially if you don’t know what you’re even doing or even how to start trimming your garden to make it look perfect.
It’s important to get something that will last. Look for good quality and hardwearing hedge shears, as well as something that isn’t going to lose its cutting ability halfway through a trim.
Getting the right size is important, so before you buy a pair of hedge shears, look at what you are going to be trimming.
There is no point getting a huge pair of hedge shears if you only have a small piece of shrubbery to tame. Equally, tackling a whole hedge isn’t going to work if you only have a small pair of hedge shears.
As well as thinking about the size of what you are cutting, make sure you establish what type of material you will be cutting.
Whilst we imagine most shrubbery having small branches is a given; however, some shrubbery will have more dense woodwork behind it.
Now it’s time to look at our Garden Shear reviews in the hopes that you find the best garden shears for you.
In a hurry? Here are our top picks for the best garden shears
Best Garden Shears for Thick Wood - Spear Jackson Anvil Secateurs
Best Lightweight Garden Shears - Felco FEL2 Model 2 Original Secateurs
Best Garden Shears for Pruning - Fiskars P68 Smart Fit Bypass Pruner
Best Value Garden Shears - GRÜNTEK Secateurs Pruning Shears
MODEL | PRICE | RATING |
|---|---|---|
Best Garden Shears - Summary Reviews
1. Spear Jackson Razorsharp Ratchet Anvil Secateurs
Best Garden Shears for Thick Wood
These small and lightweight shears are perfect for any garden job, especially keeping those rose bushes in check.
Have a read of the reviews below and see if these are the right shears for you and your garden.
The Good
The lightweight design will make any job easy, cutting hedges and bushes will be even easier without lugging around heavy machinery.
These carbon steel blades are super sharp, making cutting even easier than before.
They will stay sharper for longer, meaning you won’t need to replace your equipment too often.
The balance of these shears makes them feel super lightweight and easy to use, making garden work more enjoyable and less of a task, and the fact that they are small means storing them is an easy task.
The Not So Good
One size doesn’t always fit all, and in this case, they may not fit in your garden.
Whilst they are small and lightweight and perfect for keeping small shrubs, but if your job is a bit larger, then they may not be the perfect piece of kit.
Features -
- Brand : Spear & Jackson
- Cutting Diameter: 20mm
- Material : Carbon steel
- Suited For: Dead or thicker woody stems
Our View
These Shears are a wonderful small piece of kit. They are easy to use, stay sharp for longer and are even easy to maintain and keep clean.
The only downside is the sizing options. But, if you want a set of shears that will keep basic garden trimming tidy, then these are the ones for you.
However, they still do a great job, and they come at a reasonable price.
FAQ's
Q: Are these Spear & Jackson shears right or left handed ?
A: This Spear & Jackson model is right handed.
2. Felco FEL2 Model 2 Original Secateurs
Best Lightweight Garden Shears
These Garden Shears are the perfect all-rounder. Lightweight and strong, they will keep your garden in good shape without breaking your back, or your bank balance.
The Good
These small shears will let you intricately trim your plants, without worrying about cutting off too much. They have a comfortable grip and are easy to use.
This feature means that your hand won’t get tired quickly, so you won't have to give up on your gardening quickly.
They are small and nimble, which makes them easy to store, as well as having a sap groove, allowing the sticky mess to drain easily and halving your cleaning job.
This makes them not only convenient, but also time-saving when cleaning your garden.
The Not So Good
These shears are very small, making them perfect for small jobs, but if you are looking to cut back your garden hedge, then you may want to look for something a bit bigger. They are also not suitable for people who are left-handed.
Features -
- Brand : Felco
- Cutting Diameter: 25mm
- Material : Steel blades
- Suited For: Professional pruners for its strength
Our View
These handheld shears are perfect for smaller jobs, making trimming your rose bushes easier and more effective.
However, they are not going to help you with the bigger garden jobs, but they would still make a fantastic addition to your gardening arsenal.
And whilst the small size makes them easy to use and easy to store, they are not suitable for people who use their left hand.
3. Fiskars P68 Smart Fit Bypass Pruner
Best Garden Shears for Pruning
These small and nimble shears are suited to all your gardening needs, handheld with sharp carbon steel blades; they will make any gardening job quick and simple.
Take some time to read the reviews below and see for yourself.
The Good
They are compact and easy to use shears, with no gimmicks or long user manual. Simply unpack and go!
These shears have carbon steel blades, meaning they’ll stay sharp for longer, and the plastic handles mean that there is no chance of them rotting or disintegrating if you leave them outside.
The carbon steel blades also have a non-stick coating, meaning there is no chance that they will get stuck together mid-job, and they will be really easy to clean.
The coating also means that the cuts will be cleaner, giving your garden the best result.
The Not So Good
Whilst the small shears are easy to use, and whilst they are made of rust resistant materials, the plastic handles mean that if they are dropped or stood on then, they could easily break.
Features -
- Brand : Fiskars
- Cutting Diameter: 24mm
- Material : Carbon steel
- Suited For: Tree pruning shears for fresh and soft woods, For pruning branches, roses and ornamental plants
Our View
These small shears are simple and effective, and whilst they have the simplest design, they will still do the job they are designed for.
They have all the qualities of an easy to use and a fantastic pair of shears; my only fear would be breaking them.
While some have raised concerns about how robust they are, these garden shears make a surprisingly strong and affordable option.
4. GRÜNTEK Secateurs Pruning Shears
Best Value Garden Shears
These garden shears are perfect for ensuring that each of your bushes is trimmed to perfection.
If you are looking for quality and reliability, these could be perfect for you.
Read below and see if the reviews match your expectations.
The Good
These carbon steel blades are high functioning and hard wearing.
They are going to be able to cut through harder objects as well as staying sharper for longer, and the Teflon coating only makes them stronger.
This means that they work as an excellent support for keeping your hedges trimmed.
They have strong and supported inner workings, making cutting easier and making the inner workings less likely to become broken or wear down quickly, making them an ideal pair of hand shears for someone with a busy gardening schedule.
The Not So Good
The only serious downside to these hand shears is their size; even though they are strong, they may not be able to stand up against larger pieces of shrubbery.
But, as stated before, it is very hard to find a reason not to buy these shears.
Features -
- Brand : Guntek
- Cutting Diameter: 18mm-20mm
- Material : Carbon steel
- Suited For: Firmer and drier branches and plants
Our View
These hand Shears are hardwearing and hardcore; they are designed to last for a long time and to keep your garden tidy with ease.
It is really hard to find anything negative to say about these garden shears, and the only negative thing would be that they can’t cut down a tree, but they will keep your garden trimmed to perfection. A great product at an excellent price.
Further Models of Garden Shears
Not yet convinced? Below, you will find some more excellent models of Garden Shears for your consideration.
5. Pro Anvil Secateurs Garden Pruner
These hand Shears are easy to use, with strong blades and your hands in mind.
They have protection for your hands and fingers, meaning delving into those rose bushes won’t leave you worried about thorns and cuts.
Your garden will be cut back and trimmed easily with this set of shears.
6. Wilkinson Sword Single Hand Grass Shear
These simple grass shears are perfect for neatening edges or maybe just cutting small areas of grass that doesn’t warrant a lawnmower.
They are nimble as well as being long-lasting and high tech, so keeping your grass trimmed will be quick and easy.
Buyers Guide
How To Buy The Best Garden Shears
Are you on the market for some new garden shears? Do you need to replace your old ones but do not know which to choose? This expert guide will help you decide which garden shears are best for you.
When trimming hedges and cutting weeds, there is one tool that beats the rest; garden shears. Garden shears are versatile and compact, making them perfect for many odd jobs in the garden.
Before picking up a new pair of garden shears, consider these questions:
This handy guide will help you decide which hedge shears are best for your needs.
What types of garden shears are available?
Manual
Manual shears are a traditional and dependable choice. The act a lot like scissors and have a spring to help ease the cutting process.
Manual shears are best for those with a strong grip and do not get fatigued easily.
Powered
Powered garden shears have batteries in them to increase their cutting power. These are great for woody branches or stubborn stems that are a hassle to cut.
Powered hedge shears are particularly useful for those with a weak grip.
What types of blade can I choose?
Some gardeners like a particular look when pruning their plants. Because of this, there are two specific types of blades available to ensure that you get the best look possible for your garden.
There is no particular difference in function between them; the types are just there for aesthetic purposes.
What extra features are available?
Now that you know which type of garden shears is right for you, it is time to consider other features. If you want to get a little more bang for your buck, it may be worth picking a pair of hedge shears with some extra features. Some added features include:
Taking care of your garden shears
Garden shears are only useful when they are properly taken care of. To ensure that your garden shears last as long as possible, here are some care tips.
How much can I expect to pay for garden shears?
The price of garden shears depends on the material, brand, and features included in each model.
Garden shears typically cost anywhere between £4 and £150, with standard models being the cheapest and more complex models often being more expensive.
If you are unsure which type of garden shears are best for you, ask in store for advice or compare models online. Doing this will make sure that you get the perfect garden shears for your money.
To Conclude
Hopefully, this guide has helped you to find the best garden shears, and the garden shear reviews have given you a little more information to make the process an easier one.
These Shears are difficult to pick from, whilst they are all unique they are also all incredibly similar and designed with your garden in mind.
If we had to pick one, it would probably have to be the Felco Shears, as they just pull ahead of the others, but at the end of the day, going home with any one of these would not put a downer on my gardening experience.
What did you think of our Garden Shear guide? Are there any that you would have liked to see or recommended? We love hearing from you, so make sure to leave us a message in the comments below.
A seasoned camper and hiker, there is nothing he doesn’t know about the Great Outdoors. Hiking alone, with friends, or even little ones, he’s done it all. A trained survivalist, he gives Bear Grylls a run for his money.