by 5 people |
Lee Valley Pruning Shears
Whether I'm working at the garden center or working in my own garden, I find this is the one tool I can't live without. I was introduced to these handy garden scissors a couple of years ago by my Dad who lives in Canada. He got these handy flower pruning shears from mail order & retailer Lee Valley who produce high quality gardening and woodworking tools.
Image Source: leevalley.com
Classic Felco 2 Pruners
A Must-Have Pruner For Your Garden Bag
Felco Classic Manual Hand Pruner #F-2
Amazon Price: $43.18 (as of 12/10/2009)
My Lee Valley Pruning Shears are always in my pocket. But when I have larger stems to cut, I dig into my gardening bag for my set of Felco pruners. Felco #2s are the pruning shear of choice for most professional gardeners and landscapers. They're a little bit pricey but so worth the expense. Put them on your birthday or Christmas wish list as they are pruners that will last a lifetime. If you buy a pair, get the convenient belt holster as well.
Garden Scissors
An Alternative to Flower Pruning Shears
What I like about these type of shears are the wide handles which minimize your hands getting blistered like they would rubbing against regular scissor handles.
Since I was prone to frequently losing my garden scissors, I'd often buy several inexpensive pairs at Asian grocery stores. However, test them out before you buy them because I found with cheap pairs, the plastic handles will not be sturdy enough to bear the weight to cut anything substantial.
Joyce Chen 6-1/4-Inch Unlimited Scissors, Blue
Amazon Price: $20.95 (as of 12/10/2009)
If you can trust yourself not to lose them, pick up a pair of these good quality garden scissors from Joyce Chen which are wonderful when snipping herbs and to get in tight places to clip perennials. They come in eye catching colors: white, red, yellow and blue so they can easily be found if you drop them or like me accidentally leave them in the garden.
The only reason my Lee Valley Pruning Shears have replaced these type of garden scissors in my gardening bag is that these snips tend to have sharp blade points so they unfortunately nick holes in the pockets of my shorts and are kind of dangerous when bending or kneeling in my shorts. In comparison, the Lee Valley Pruning Shears have rounded blunted scissor blades which are important if you haul your garden scissors or pruners in your pocket. But try both to see if you prefer the cutting momentum of garden scissors vs. the mini pruning shears.
Japanese Ikebana Scissors
If Your Prefer Traditional Japanese Gardening Tools
Ikebana Scissors #M1071
Amazon Price: $29.95 (as of 12/10/2009)
When I first started gardening, I was quite old school about the whole thing. These are the kind of gardening scissors my Grandma used to use so I thought they were the definitive way to do fine pruning. I have a pair, but I find they tend to get a bit rusty because I'm a bit lazy when it comes to properly cleaning my gardening tools.
Corona Mini Gardening Shears
Alternative to Lee Valley Pruning Shears
Corona Clipper Bonsai & Orchids Mini Shear With Vinyl Coated Steel Handles #FS 4310
Amazon Price: $16.14 (as of 12/10/2009)
In general, I find Corona tools have a stiff cutting action. I have not used these particular set of pruning shears so can't endorse them. But this pair by Corona appear to be the closest match to my beloved pair of Lee Valley 6" Pruning Shears. I'm not sure if Lee Valley commissioned Corona to develop a branded pair of gardening snips but these appear similar.
What Are Your Favorite Gardening Tools?
It must sound like I'm hyping my favorite pair of flower pruning shears but I don't get paid a commission to recommend Lee Valley's 6" Pruning Shears, it's just that I love them so much. In fact, any other set of pruners you purchase on this page will help in part to support Food for Everyone.
I'm always on the look out for tools and gadgets which make gardening easier. What do you recommend? Feel free to include links to lenses about your favorite gardening tools and gadgets.
P.S. This lens was inspired by fellow lensmaster Mickie G's fondness for her mandoline slicer & her lens "My Favorite Kitchen Tool".
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- poutine poutine Aug 21, 2009 @ 3:48 pm
- Good choices for pruners.
I love gardening also.
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- JaguarJulie JaguarJulie Aug 1, 2009 @ 2:36 pm
- Adrienne -- is this a summer school assignment -- which one is this for? Some of the most creative looking shears I've ever seen.
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- rms rms Jul 27, 2009 @ 7:55 am
- Nice work!
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- RinchenChodron RinchenChodron Jul 26, 2009 @ 3:11 pm
- Nice lens - I love to garden and to do Ikebana and the right tools are important.
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