Secateur group test
Important for pruning tasks but which is the best buy? Steve and Val check six models
SECATEURS are basic gardening tools and are usually taken along by the gardener regardless of the job in hand. They serve every purpose, from dead-heading to pruning, and a quality pair will last for years if you maintain them properly.
In historic terms, secateurs are a relatively recent idea, having been invented in France in 1819. Early examples are cross-cut (bypass) types, with the anvil variation originating in
Germany in 1923.
Early models were made by local blacksmiths, so they varied from one maker to another. They shared a basic design and became known as ‘parrot bill’ secateurs, due to the shape and slight overlap of the blades.
Choosing new secateurs should never be a spur-of-the-moment decision. You really need to test the feel of them in your hand for weight and extension. If the handles splay too wide for your
hand, working with them will be uncomfortable. The same applies if they are too heavy.
There are two main types:
Bypass – the cutting blade moves past a lower, curved blade that is fixed in position. Sometimes referred to as a ‘half anvil’ the method of cut is a scissor action, where the two surfaces pass closely and anything trapped inbetween is cut.
Anvil – a single cutting blade is pressed down onto a flat surface (or ‘anvil’) and anything trapped between is cut.
One mistake often made when using secateurs is to cut with the tip of the blades. The stem being cut should be positioned at the base of the blades as cutting starts to reduce strain on both the blades and the wrist.
■ Tip: As well as the size, weight and cutting action, it is also worth noting the colour of the secateurs handles. The brighter the colour the better, as white, red or orange is easier to find if they are dropped or put down while gardening. Green or black may not be found again until winter.