Best Garden Secateurs For Pruning, Cutting & Dead-Heading

Last Updated on November 1, 2022 by Real Men Sow

Best Garden Secateurs For Pruning, Cutting & Dead-Heading

Spear and Jackson 6 Razorsharp

Gonicc 8″ Professional

Fiskars PowerGear Garden Shears

The Best Garden Secateurs

Whether it’s cutting back on overgrown trees, shrubs or dead-heading roses, a good set of secateurs are really going to come in handy. But what makes for the best secateurs?

While small, these are some of the most essential pieces of kit in a gardener’s arsenal. Handy to pick up, unlock and prune with on the go, the best secateurs are simple to use in the first instance but take time to truly master.

What’s more, do you really know which type of pruner is going to be ideal for you? We don’t just mean left handed or right handed. We mean have you looked at bypass secateurs or anvil secateurs? What about ratchet options?

In this guide, we’ll take you through everything you need to know about hunting down the best secateurs pair for your regular gardening use. First of all, however, let’s take a look at ten brilliant choices we’ve found online for you.

The Top Secateurs Online: Our Top Picks

It’s taken time for us to hunt down the top secateurs available for you to buy right now. However, we’re confident in our choices!

In a little while, we will take you through how we made our choices. For now, let’s guide you through what’s available, and why they’re worth your time and money as an avid gardener.

Table of Contents

Best Secateurs for Anvil Pruning Spear and Jackson 6758GS Razorsharp

We love Spear Jackson products, and the company produces some of the best secateurs on the market right now. This anvil system is impressively robust, rough and responsive. It’s built in aluminum but also has a steel blade available so that you can easily get through tough, dead wood. It’s rust resistant and has gear functionality.

Features

Dimensions: 21.5cm x 9cm x 2cm
Weight: 0.24kg
Secateurs Style: Anvil

Pros

  • Impressive sharpness
  • Very well priced
  • Lots of rust resistance
  • Solid brand appeal

Cons

  • One size fits all

Best Premium Blade Gonicc 8″ Professional

These golden pruners really dazzle, but it’s when you put them to physical use in the cut that they really shine through. These bypass runners are great for finer cutting and are 8 inches long. They benefit from ergonomic handles as well as a sap groove to stop annoying sticking from cut to cut. They cut with the benefit of titanium blades – not bad for the price!

Features

Weight: 0.18kg
Secateurs Style: Bypass
Handle Size: One Size Fits All
Blade Type: Titanium

Pros

  • Great for fine prunes and dead-heading
  • Sap groove helps to prevent sticking
  • Designed to be extremely comfortable
  • Fantastic blade quality

Cons

  • Not many to speak of

Best Bypass Secateurs Fiskars PowerGear L


There’s power in the name, and these Fiskars bypass pruners are ideal if you have finer prunes to do, but if you’d prefer a little bit of heft behind it. Large hands will find these pruners easy to use, and Fiskars has also set this tool up for blade replacements if need be. It locks easily and has a brilliant rotational action, making it one of the most versatile cutting implements on our list. Fiskars don’t half make our lives easy sometimes!

Features

Dimensions: 20.7 x 7.8 x 4.29cm
Weight: 0.3kg
Secateurs Style: Bypass
Handle Size: Large
Blade Type: Steel Alloy

Pros

  • Nice and easy cut action
  • Flexible and versatile
  • Reinforced and coated blade
  • Lots of power for a bypass system

Cons

  • A little bit pricey

Top Premium Secateurs

Okatsune 103 Bypass Secateurs

Not all secateurs and pruners come with this price tag attached, but the reviews really show the money to be worth it. These mid-sized bypass secateurs should make light work of fine prune jobs, with a nice blade length of 55mm and a hardness rating in the steel that means you’ve got a long-lasting piece of kit. There are holsters available and this is a pair that’s generally easy to grip.

Features

Dimensions: 26 x 7.39 x 2cm
Weight: 0.2kg
Secateurs Style: Bypass
Handle Size: Medium
Blade Type: Steel

Pros

  • Nice grip and feel
  • Tough even for bypass secateurs
  • Easy to grind
  • Slow, smooth closing action

Cons

  • A little high on the price side

FELCO Model 2 Secateurs

Built for larger hands, these pruners are comfortable to use and are great competitors against the top pruners Spear Jackson has to offer! Cutting with the anvil blade is a cinch, and you also benefit from aluminum handles as well as hardened steel in the blade itself. The grip here is non slip, meaning it’s not hard to keep hold of these pruners.

Features

Dimensions: 23.5 x 10.2 x 2.5cm
Weight: 0.3kg
Secateurs Style: Anvil
Handle Size: Medium to Large
Blade Type: Carbon Steel

Pros

  • Great for mid to large hands
  • Solid, reliable construction
  • Shock absorbent with sap groove
  • Non slip and comfy to handle

Cons

  • Fairly pricey

Spear and Jackson Razorsharp Ratchet Anvil Secateurs


Use these ratchet secateurs when you really want to cut sharply into the thickest or densest of dead wood around. As with other products from this manufacturer, cutting is nice and simple and offers a smooth cutting action – what’s more, it is really well priced! These pruners should also help you to cut, cut and cut some more through material of up to 20mm in thickness.

Features

Dimensions: 30 x 12 x 11cm
Weight: 0.23g
Secateurs Style: Ratchet, Anvil
Handle Size: One Size Fits All
Blade Type: Carbon Steel

Pros

  • Very reliable
  • Comfortable to use and grip
  • Ratchet action is nice and smooth
  • Brilliant carbon steel cutting

Cons

  • Not ideal for finer pruning tasks

Fiskars Smart Fit Pruner Bypass P68


One of the safest and most flexible cutting devices on this list, these well-priced Fiskars hand pruners are vibrant, reinforced, and come with non-stick guaranteed. There’s fiberglass in the handles and you can adjust the diameter from cut to cut. Make sure you do so if you’re cutting through lots of different things! These offer the classic bypass cutting action, making them great for fresh trees and other wood. Fiskars tends to go a bit colorful on the look – not a bad thing!

Features

Dimensions: 25 x 15 x 7cm
Weight: 0.13kg
Secateurs Style: Bypass
Handle Size: One Size Fits All
Blade Type: Bypass

Pros

  • Nice and easy to use
  • Comfortable to grip and hold
  • Sharpen up easily
  • Great for thin branches

Cons

  • Might not be ideal for tough stuff

Wilkinson Sword Aluminum Bypass Pruner


Wilkinson Sword doesn’t just make razor blades! You can also pick up a nice grip set of secateurs from the same manufacturer. And why not? Boasting carbon steel blades and a nice, delicate action, this is a cheap and cheerful yet surprisingly effective hand pruning tool that should make dead-heading and slight adjustments that bit simpler. A 10 year guarantee is worth looking into, as well!

Features

Dimensions: 19.5 x 4.5 x 1.5cm
Weight: 0.2kg
Secateurs Style: Bypass
Handle Size: One Size Fits All
Blade Type: Carbon Steel

Pros

  • Nice and easy to work with – what you see is what you get
  • Good for finer cutting tasks
  • Comes with a 10 year guarantee
  • Very affordable

Cons

  • Maybe not the best handles
  • Not ideal for larger branches

GRÜNTEK Professional Garden Pruning Shears

These ergonomic cutting helpers are designed to fit your hands – and they are some of the most effective when you really want to cut through the finer, more intricate parts of your garden. Coated with Teflon, the blades on this pruner system is super strong and built in carbon steel. If you’ve tried blades after blades after blades – this coated, sturdy option might just be what you’re looking for.

Features

Dimensions: 21.5 x 6.4 x 2.3cm
Weight: 0.25kg
Secateurs Style: Bypass
Handle Size: One Size Fits All
Blade Type: Carbon Steel

Pros

  • Body is aluminum and PVC
  • Blades are extremely robust
  • Great for a fresh cut
  • Won’t fatigue your hands

Cons

  • Not great for big jobs

Davaon Pro Switch 2 in 1 Ratchet Secateurs

Why buy two sets of blades when you could have one that helps you cut through it all? This ratchet pruner system has light handles and a switch mode that lets you swap between single snips and cuts and steady ratcheting. If you’re either unsure which blades to go for or are sick of swapping between pruners, this is likely to be a good product to make a beeline for. It’s not hard to get a grip on these in your hand, and like the Fiskars pruners, they make a lot of the design!

Features

Dimensions: 21 x 8 x 1.5cm
Weight: 0.25kg
Secateurs Style: Ratchet
Handle Size: One Size Fits All
Blade Type: Carbon Steel

Pros

  • Fits nicely in your hand – reasonable grip
  • Brilliant two blades system
  • Fantastic value
  • Robust and durable – powerful cutting in your hand

Cons

  • Not much to speak of

What is the difference between pruners and secateurs?

Believe it or not, there’s no difference between pruners and secateurs – they do the same thing!

When you want to prune your plants and flowers, you should make a point of looking for ideal secateurs for your needs. Generally, pruners is a term that’s used in North America. If you’re buying pruning tools in the UK, you’ll find that they are called secateurs.

So – there’s no need for you to get too confused or muddled when shopping around!

What are the different types of secateurs?

There are two types of secateurs in the main – these are anvil secateurs and bypass secateurs. We’ll go into these in a bit more detail below, but for now, here’s a quick lowdown.

The best way to consider anvil secateurs and bypass secateurs is to compare them to other household items! For example, an anvil secateurs system is much like a knife and a block, whereas bypass secateurs are a little bit like a sharp pair of scissors.

The type of secateurs likely to be best for pruning your garden will all depend on what you need to trim down. It’s not always unheard of to have both types of secateurs on the go at once! Some secateurs are sharper or hardier than others. Generally, you’re likely going to look at anvil secateurs if you want to get through some pretty tough stuff. Bypass secateurs tend to be a lot more precise.

Beyond this, however, there are such tools as ratchet secateurs. Ratchet secateurs tend to give you the best of both worlds. When you buy a pair of ratchet secateurs, you’ll normally receive either a pair of anvil blades or bypass blades. Ratchet secateurs come in small and large sizes and tend to be great for getting through thicker and larger branches.

Therefore, some people opt for ratchet secateurs outright as they tend to offer the best of both worlds – and they are very good all rounders depending on the branches and dead stems you want and need to get through. However, there’s certainly nothing wrong with opting for bypass or anvil blades and secateurs outright!

So – now you know a bit more about the types of secateurs out there, you can narrow down your options with ease!

How do you choose a pair of secateurs?

Choosing the best secateurs for your needs doesn’t have to be a hassle. However, there are going to be a few things you should keep an eye out for to make sure they are easy to use for all your garden pruning demands.

Choose a pair of garden secateurs that will be comfortable for you to work with

The best secateurs for pruning your own garden should, of course, be comfortable. You can buy secateurs and pruners that are either left-handed or right-handed. If you are a left handed gardener likely to share your secateurs with a right handed gardener, however, there are some neutral pairs that are ambidextrous. Of course, comfortable grips are a must!

Ensure your new garden secateurs are non slip

Non slip and soft grip handles are great if you are going to be out pruning your garden for long periods of time. In fact, even just pruning a few branches at a time is going to wear down into your palms, so it makes sense to look for a new pair of secateurs that will fight back against rising fatigue.

Check the size of your garden secateurs to find the right fit for your hands

Of course, you can find many different pairs of secateurs which are built for professional gardeners with large hands! There are small and large handle systems available for gardeners of all shapes and sizes – so don’t ever worry about being left out of the game!

What are your Secateurs made from?

Do also take a look at what the blades on your secateurs are made of. Anything hardy such as stainless steel or carbon steel is a must. This is because these blades will weather years of use and are unlikely to go rusty.

Do your garden secateurs provide non-stick properties?

Non stick options are well worth considering, too. Non stick secateurs will, as you’d expect, offer up a smooth slicing and pruning action so that you can keep pruning without having to lock up and unlock every five minutes.

Safety First! Can you lock your secateurs in place with a safety catch?

Some form of safety catch, too, is essential. Secateurs, for all they are fairly small and unassuming, can still cause injury or even worse if used improperly. While it’s always important to be as safe as possible when using these tools, do also take the time to use pruning shears or similar that you can lock into place with a safety catch. Otherwise, they may spring open and cause damage when you least expect it.

Are your garden secateurs fit for purpose?

Do also look for heavy duty secateurs, too, if you need to get through cutting down some thick branches. Getting a clean cut or two through some thicker branches can be a real pain sometimes, and it might take more than just razor sharp steel blades to do the business.

It’s not always easy to know which pruners, blades and handles are going to give you the best experience. How can you know for sure that you are buying into the best cutting action, for example? What’s good to have to hand?

We always recommend you take a close look at tools which have strong reviews from verified buyers online, regardless of the price and regardless of the handle and blade type. A good pair of pruners will have solid ratings from people who are guaranteed to have bought them – be careful to look through the different tools available on Amazon, for example, and learn how to spot a false review or two!

Gardening Secateurs – FAQs

What are Bypass secateurs?

Bypass secauteurs are sometimes seen as garden scissors. That’s because they have a precise cutting action that slices down between two sharp blades.

Many people prefer a bypass pair of pruners mainly for the fact that they are really easy to use. They come with a variety of handles and grips and will generally offer you a good all-around cutting action.

Cutting with bypass secateurs is also seen as somewhat more precise than with anvil garden tools. That’s because you can get closer to the buds of your flowers than you might with other tools. Bypass tools tend to give you a really nice, clean cut and they are comfortable to use for both small hands and large hands – providing you buy the right handle system and grips for your needs, of course!

However, what you may find that bypass secateurs are not always the best at cutting through thicker branches, or stems and branches that need a little more force. That said, a well made or high quality pair of heavy duty bypass secateurs should give you a pretty reliable experience regardless of the stems and branches you want to prune.

What are Anvil Secateurs?

Anvil secateurs are the go-to cutting tools when you really need to get through some hard stuff.

These secateurs are pretty easy to spot as they have chunky steel blades, which allow you to force more pressure down into the branches you need cutting through – even larger hands can have trouble cutting through tougher stuff and dead wood!

In fact, we would probably recommend these styles of pruning shears and secateurs if you want or need to get through dead or particularly gnarly wood. They don’t tend to be the best secateurs for working your way through slighter stems and pieces, and if you’re doing some precise pruning, then you may do best looking for bypass secateurs instead.

Of course, if you’re really not sure which secateurs are likely to work best for you, then a ratchet tool could be your best choice. This means you get the benefit of a steel blade that offers the best of all worlds.

The easiest way to remember the difference between an anvil pair of secateurs and bypass pruners is that anvils will crush, while bypasses will trim and slice. Think of the difference between a hand masher and a pair of scissors, and you’ll get close to the main distinctions between these types.

What secateurs does Monty Don use?

Monty Don rates a variety of branded secateurs as useful for all kinds of trimming and pruning jobs. However, it’s stated that he finds carbon steel secateurs particularly useful.

These secateurs are likely to be the hardiest in the face of all kinds of weather conditions and varying degrees of wetness. What’s more, they will also stand up to a variety of tougher or thicker branches and stems.

On the whole, while it’s healthy to look at what professional gardeners such as Monty Don use, you should always consider your own specific needs, first and foremost. What might work for gardeners at the BBC might not be the best fit for your garden and your daily use, per se.

Just look out for a pair of good quality secateurs or pruning tools that aren’t likely to rust or fatigue your hands after short bursts. Whether you choose aluminium handles or a branded model that comes with fancy blades, you are ultimately looking for a tool that’s going to make cutting that bit easier.

There’s nothing wrong with looking at branding and expert opinion when it comes to choosing between blade after blade, and handles after handles. After all, you’re reading this guide for a second opinion – we assume!

However, don’t always be ready to follow the pack. Look for a blade system that’s going to cut cleanly for the price.

What type of Secateurs should I buy?

Generally, the best type of secateurs to buy will be those that you can flexibly adapt across the garden. That’s why we often recommend ratchet secateurs for that all-around appeal and experience.

However, if you are only ever needing to handle thicker branches or dead wood, then you’ll probably do best investing in anvil cut action. Bypass pruning, of course, gives you blades that will ensure a more precise cut, and a gentler experience.

Whatever you do, don’t always get led on price. Pricing for secateurs is definitely going to vary, and this can often be the case as a result of fancy new technology or branding and line popularity. What we mean to say, of course, is that you shouldn’t just buy a pair of secateurs or pruning blade tools for the sake of them being a low price. Great value is key!

We’ve made a point to look for blades, handles and more which we feel to be fantastic value for use across the garden. Naturally, your cutting and pruning needs may differ compared to the next person. However, the picks we have lined up here will give you a fantastic level of support for the price.

Therefore, we advise you shouldn’t ever price yourself out of a great pair of secateurs. You don’t have to and shouldn’t have to spend the Earth on them, but when you buy a cheap blade or a low price pair of secateurs, you may run the risk of getting cheap manufacture back in return.

Trust us – when it comes to hand implements like secateurs, you’re going to need to make a serious investment. These should weather years of use to come!

Conclusion

Well – now you know a bit more about secateurs and what to look for, now really is the time to get a grip – literally – on what’s on the market!

Look for a pair of secateurs that gives you the support you demand. You might need a specific pair of anvil secateurs for large hands that cuts through some of the tougher bits and pieces. You might also want to look for a blade built in stainless steel that’s going to easily slice through branch after branch without the risk of you developing rust.

It’s easy to assume that finding the best secateurs is as simple as just looking briefly online or checking out your local garden centre for a pair that fits your hands and your strength. These are, of course, excellent starting points – but for real long term appeal, you are going to need to dig a little deeper! Take a look at what other gardeners have to say, too.

Look for stainless steel – safety catch systems that genuinely work – and even a left handed option if the shoe – or glove – fits!

Real Men Sow
Real Men Sow

Hello, I’m Pete and I’m currently based in the west of Scotland, in a small place called Rosneath, where I’m exploring my garden adventures. I personally started gardening around 6 years ago and initially, I started out by growing my favorite fruits and berries, such as strawberries, Raspberries & Gooseberries. Since then I’ve added a lot of vegetables and working closely with my neighbor, it’s been a lot of fun.