TOOLS
Ideas and Tips

Q: What is the best shovel? Read tips.
Q: What is the best pruner to use? Read tips.

Want to have your questions answered? Have tips to share at our Green Thumbs' Forum? Drop us a line!

Q: What is the best shovel?
A: Remember, a cheap tool is usually cheap for a reason. A good solid shovel that fits you will save you aggravation in the long run. If you ever are known to leave your tools out in the rain, a fiberglass rather than wood handle may be a good bet. Test the size and weight of the shovel before you buy.

Read other tips

Q: What is the best pruner to use?
A:Using the right tool for a cutting job permits you to work more quickly and with less effort. The first tool I recommend is the hand pruner. It is preferred for cutting woody branches up to 1" in diameter. You will find both anvil and bypass types.

Anvil pruners have a cutting blade that pushes against a flat anvil. Their advantage is less adjusting of the blade. Some brands, such as Florian, come in a ratchet style that allows you torest your hand in the middle of a stroke. The disadvantage of the anvil pruner is that it smashes through the end of the cut. This is a less desirable finish and the stub causes some trees to send off a new stem.

Bypass pruners have a cutting blade that slides next to a hooked anvil in a scissors motion. It leaves a cleaner and closer cut. The cutting blade is easily sharpened; some manufacturers, such as Felco, have readily available replacement blades.

Pole pruners also come in both anvil and bypass styles; some are also available with a pruning saw attachment, which is essential for pruning larger branches. The lightweight ARS pole pruner comes with a handle that moves the cutting blade. Other styles, such as the heavy duty Corona, have a pull rope to move the blade.

The lopper is used to cut up to a 2" stem. This is a two-handed tool, allowing you to apply greater force. Fiskars ergonomic geared lopper provides you with even more power for cutting those hard woods in your garden. The pruning saw allows you to cut through branches too large even for your loppers. It is designed to cut on the pull, unlike carpenter's saws, which cut on the push. For branches at eye level I prefer the fine toothed saw; it leaves a smoother looking finish to the cut.

A folding saw such as Barnel or the popular Felco 60 is a great convenience because you can carry it safely in your pocket or pouch.

For additional information about special purpose cutting tools (grass shears, snippers for soft-stemmed plants, hedge clippers, chain saws, etc.) and about pruning techniques I recommend Ortho's All About Pruning. Or contact the nonprofit pruning education group Plant Amnesty (206)-783-9813.

By Erich Nordstrom

Read other tips