Why be concerned about the BEST pruning shears? Because it’s the one garden tool we rely more than any other. Read on to find out which are the best pruning shears!

One of the most common questions we hear from new gardeners is which tools they should purchase. The only answer to that is to start with bypass pruners. Of all the tools you collect over the years, your pruners will be the ones you reach for most often.

Sure, you can find some cheap pruners online, at Home Depot — even at the Dollar Store. But don’t be tempted. Save your pennies and buy the best pair you can find. And ensure that you’re buying bypass pruners. Akin to scissors, the blades bypass one another while in motion, making clean — instead of crushing — cuts.

Anvil shears are similar in looks to bypass shears, but they serve a different purpose (typically for cutting dead wood). Don’t try using your bypass pruners when you should be using anvils. The dry wood may jam the blades and, quite possibly, bend them.

Later you’ll also want a pair of anvils, but I would buy loppers (for thicker, woody branches) first.

But for now, concentrate on pruning shears. We’ve used many over the decades and I always come back to one: the Felcos. Dewey prefers Okatsune, however. As a landscaper, he swears by them.

Different pruners for different folks, right?

Let’s compare pruning shears

	Felco2	Corona 3180	Okatsune 103	ARS VS-8
Rating
Weight	8.5 ounces	12.8 ounces	8 ounces	9.6 ounces
Maximum Cutting Capacity	1 inch	1 inch	3/4 inch	1 inch
Replacement Parts Available
Features	Ever wonder what the pros use? The Felco2 is probably the most popular among professional landscapers. So tough and durable, Felco pruners eventually become family heirlooms. Take care of them and your grandkids will be using them. The Felco2 pruners come with a full 1-year warranty and a limited lifetime warranty.	As a company, Corona has been around since the 1920s and began by selling tools to professionals. And, while it’s still a well-known and respected brand in the garden, landscape and agriculture industries, home gardeners are catching on. These pruners come with a limited lifetime warranty.	Okatsune pruners are another that will last a lifetime, if cared for. Manufactured from Izumo Yasuki steel with a Rockwell hardness of 60+/-61, they’re practically indestructible. Although they come with a replacement spring, you’ll probably not need it. One pro we know has owned his for 10 years and has never had to adjust the pivot or replace the spring.	The ARS VS8 pruning shears has its share of professional landscaper fans. The blades are chrome plated, carbon steel, and replacement blades and other parts are readily available online (gemplers.com carries them). These pruners have a rotating handle, which is ideal for gardeners who suffer from RSI, arthritis and other joint disorders of the hand.
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