Heavy Duty Pole Pruner  - Fiskars Long Reach Universal Cutter.

I have used this tool for about 10 years now and still marvel at its incredible cutting power and ease of use.

It is easier to use than traditional tree pruners as the cord is on the inside so does not get tangled up in the branches.

Also the multi-angle head contains a brilliant  mechanism with a belt and chain that enables the tool to effortlessly slice through branches up to 32mm.

There are 3 ways of activating the cut, pull the sliding handle, pull the side cord or for extra reach pull the ball at the bottom of the handle. Superb design!

The Fiskars Geared Universal Cutter won a 2002 Golden Shed Award and has recently won other prestigious design awards. In 2008 it was re-engineered using newly available materials and is now lighter and cuts with an anvil blade which is less likely to jam on a hard stem..

The standard version is 1.6m long and weighs only 1.1kg

The telescopic version is2.4m-4m  and has a reach of 6m!

This is an unconventional tool but trust me, if you have branches to prune in hard to reach places, you will love this one.

If you don't believe me and want to do things the old way with a tangled cord I have put a link to a popular ,good quality standard tree pruner.

(and also a great deal on one with a saw included)

A new version of the long telescopic model is now out

This is me with the shorter version

The new materials make the telescopic version light enough for anyone to use

I have even used it from my wheelchair!

Long Handled Cut and Hold Pruner

This long handled cut and hold pruner is one of my favorite tools and one that I have used for over 10 years. That's why it won the first ever Golden Shed Award.

It comes in different sizes from the 650mm version shown here right up to the  telescopic one that extends to 3m!

This tool is ideal for light pruning up to16mm thick, and for deadheading roses etc. Whilst working as an NHS horticultural therapist I recommended this tool to hundreds of patients with back pain. I received many letters of thanks and never had a tool returned faulty.

 650 mm version shown left-  but the best version is longer at 1m and is superb for reaching climbing roses or into the back of deep prickly borders.

The "snapper" can be used one or two handed and has a lot of handle adjustment. It is also very well made and I am still using one that I have had for over 10 years.

If you are going for a telescopic snapper then the one with the adjustable head is most useful.

The red jaws on the head hold onto stems after they have been cut.

Wolf Tree Pruning Tools

The Wolf multichange system has been around for decades now and I have been using their tree pruning tools for nearly 20 years.

Whilst Silky from Japan seem to be the top brand with professionals for this type of tool the cost is prohibitive to most people.

The Wolf tools are made in Germany and are excellent quality. The curved saw and adjustable tree pruner are both superbly efficient and can be fitted to the telescopic aluminium ZMV4 pole to extend to 4m, giving you a reach of 4m plus your own height.

This curved saw has a hooked end for side shoots and can be fitted to a 4m long telescopic pole

Felco Professional Secateurs

Best Quality Secateurs

These classic Secateurs have been copied by all and sundry. Felco is the choice of the professionals and you can literarily SMELL the quality when you buy new ones.

At about £35 they are quite an investment but can be serviced and repaired to last your lifetime. (Please contact Burton McCall)

Many professionals I know, and most of the gardening celebrities on TV tend to use Felco secateurs.

There is a large range to suit your  hand size and pruning requirements. Unless you lose them these secateurs really will last your lifetime. Model no 2 are the original ones. Felco also pioneered the use of rotating handles to reduce RSI and skin chaffing. See models no 7 and12 ( 10 for left handed use.)

The only small criticism I can make of Felco secateurs is that the small metal safety catches can be hard to access by people with arthritis or large cold fingers.

Made in Switzerland

My Classic no 2 's

When you have hundreds of roses to prune it is essential that you take precautions to protect your hands from repetitive strain injury.

The Felco professional secateurs have a rotating lower handle that requires less effort and reduces ligament strain. RRP £49.99

 * If you suffer from arthritis or more serious conditions then you might want to consider ratchet pruners.

Felco no 7, with rotating lower handle

Felco secteurs have been around for decades rarely change. This means that spares are easily available and you can make your Felco secateurs last a lifetime.

Very occasionally even Felco bring out a new product and this time its a cut and hold pruner (Felco model 100)  that is great for one handed work when you need to reach or stretch or hold onto something. If you watch any TV gardening program you rarely see anyone using anything other than a Felco Secateur.

Spares for most popular models

buy Felco secatuers online from another discount supplier

Roses flower for much longer if you deadhead them

This Secateur cuts then holds onto the rose for easy disposal with one hand

Handy Secateur accessories and the model 100 cut and hold secateurs

Return of the Rolcut!

German Made Professional Secateurs Return to the UK

Lowe Pruning Products Launched November 2011

Best Quality Secateurs

I started my first paid gardening jobs in 1975 and borrowed my Dad's all metal Rolcut anvil secateurs. (shown above)

Although Rolcut was a well known brand in the UK the tool design was from a German company called Lowe who had patented the first anvil pruner in 1923. My Dad's old Rolcut secateurs were very well used (and abused) but always provided good service. The all metal design and anvil blade made them the toughest pruner available and they were the choice of many professionals and enthusiasts.

Well Lowe pruning tools are now back in the UK and I have been testing some of them with my team.

All of the tools performed well and are a similar quality to Felco. Spare parts are stocked in the UK and easily available.

Sadly the spare parts for the modern Lowe tools do not fit the old UK made Rolcut tools. If you want an old original pair of the Rolcut no1 model I have a set spare I dont need, £10 plus postage - for spares or repair, mail me if you want them.

The original design, all metal version is now called the Lowe 1.101   approx £32

There is a version with soft grip plastic handle covers. Lowe 1.104  approx £34

(There is a pair with adjustable handle opening widths) Lowe 2.104  approx £37

There is a very small pair Lowe 5.104 approx £28

There is an excellent and unusual curved blade anvil Secateur Lowe 8.104 approx £45

Also there are some fantastic loppers with polished aluminium handles.

Bypass lopper Lowe 21.065  approx £84

Like the Original Rolcut pruner  but with soft grips

The Unique curved anvil blade works a treat

Superb Quality Loppers

A lower price alternative to Felco secateurs?

Ergonomics taken to a new level

Bahco are a EU manufacturer formally known as Sandvik. In the UK their tools are mainly used by landscape gardeners who like the wide range of secateurs and the reliable supply of spare parts. In 2007 they introduced new Secateur ranges. The ergonomic handle shape curves in 2 dimensions and which I find genuinely nice to use. The Bahco PG range of secateurs come in range of   handle  sizes, AND 2 blade sizes.  The pair featured here (and used by myself) are the PG -M2-E model which is a medium sized, economy version. Whilst the blades are good they are not as good to use as Felco and the small button like safety catch is really annoying.

Bahco make the widest range of secateurs and cutting tools of any manufacturer and all spare parts are available . This makes Bahco cutting tools very popular with professional gardeners.

In contrast to these new fangled ergonomic secateurs Bahco also make old fashioned , all metal , no -nonsense , secateurs.

The P121,s are virtually bullet proof and the ideal tool for contractors and their employees.

Made in France

These  loppers made by Wolf Tools are the  telescopic loppers that I  recommend for serious work based on 5 years of hard work with them. They genuinely cut a  40mm branch with ease and have an easy adjustment method.

The difference between these and other telescopic loppers is that the handles are oval in section and are stronger than round section handles. Also these handles lock in position with a sliding catch with a locating pin. Inferior telescopic handles twist to lock - most of the time!

Wolf RS650T Anvil telescopic Lopper,  RRP £55

Whilst ratchet loppers sound like a good idea and many work well, they are prone to breaking if used incorrectly. If you are a professional gardener it is likely that you will use hired help, and they may not take the best care of your tools.

Simple and strong loppers are better for constant use by a variety of people.

The Wolf RS870 expert anvil loppers cut an amazing 50mm thanks to slider on the handle that opens the blade just that bit further and provides more leverage. RRP £70

Click to see prices of Wolf Loppers from Fredshed's recommended supplier

If your budget is stretched and you want maximum performance for minimum price these loppers are made by Bulldog and are well made and light.

T

The Bulldog loppers are longer and can cut a bit larger but the Wolf ones are much faster to use.

Wolf  Garten RS650T telescopic loppers -up to 42mm cut

Click to see prices of Wolf Loppers from Fredshed's recommended supplier

Wolf  Garten RS870 Expert Anvil  loppers - 50mm cut

Best Garden Loppers?

Carbon fibre handles & Swiss Engineering

My favourite loppers for many years have been my Wolf telescopic ones. Now Felco of Switzerland have bought out these state of the art, carbon fibre handled, bypass loppers and I am very impressed.

The blades are made from  precision ground, top quality steel and this tool has the sort of engineering usually seen in Formula One cars.

The carbon fibre handles make these medium size (24 inches long) loppers extremely light but very strong.

At around £120 you would expect superb cutting performance and this is what you get, plus a design statement too. If you can afford it and enjoy having the best then you wont be disappointed. Or if you want to buy a special gift for a a special gardener then these loppers have to be the ultimate gardening gift!

click to buy from a Fredshed recommended retailer

Fantastic New Geared Shears and Loppers

I have been using geared loppers and shears for a many years now and dozens of readers have bought them on my recommendations and provided positive feedback.

This first geared loppers were from Wilkinson Sword  and they have now been improved further with the use of lighter stronger handles.

As the Wilkinson Sword brand has been bought by MTD of the USA the best new geared loppers are made by Fiskars of Finland.

These loppers have the all important gearing mechanism that provides extra cutting power but now the tool is 80% hi tech plastic which makes them ultra light - but still very strong.

Available in 3 sizes! (formally known as Wilkinson sword loppers)

use my links below to make sure you get the latest version

3 bypass blade models and  the large Anvil version for clearance work.

The Felco Loppers with carbon Fibre Handles

The original , now obsolete, Fiskars geared loppers ( branded Wilkinson Sword)

The new , lighter , stronger versions, (branded Fiskars)

When it comes to blade quality and value I don't think anyone beats Bahco.

The tools are not cheap but are sensibly priced compared to brands like Silky. Also the range of Bahco pruning saws is the most extensive and offers the widest choice to the professional gardener. Bahco proved tools to the forestry industry and most tools are made in the EU.

My favourites  - the  Bahco 5128 fixed blade pruning saw comes with a leg holster - for quick draw action!

If you are short of space the Laplander is the best folding pruning saw I know.

The Fiskars folding saw is an amazing bargain if it is still under £6 (see link above)

(New models have half orange handles )

The Pruning saw is designed to get into hard to reach areas and give an precise clean cut to help prevent disease entering the plant.

You will be amazed at how quickly a top quality blade will cut through green wood.

Folding pruning saws are also available but I find they flex a little and do not cut as quickly as a fixed blade model.

The Japanese brand "Silky" is considered by professionals to be the Rolls Royce of saws.

More cost conscious professionals use Bahco which is my preferred choice too.

These Fiskars saws with retractable blades are safer for your fingers!

The quality of the cutting edge is exceptional too.

Bowsaws tested and reviewed

This humble Bowsaw in the right hands is one of  the most efficient,  cost effective garden tools available.

For a few quid and a bit of effort you can prune or clear tress and shrubbery in rapid time. A Bowsaw is a lot easier to start than a chainsaw and requires little maintenance, and no petrol. If you have a chainsaw the bowsaw makes a good back up tool. If you buy either of the Bahco Bowsaws shown in the link boxes below you can be sure of always being able to obtain spare blades and keep this tool for many years.

Bahco Bowsaws come in a wide range of sizes with replacement blades easily available.

Even if you have a chainsaw you should also have a bowsaw as a backup in case of failure or if you are working in areas were people don't want noise.

I have many forks and spades out on long term test with full time professional gardeners. Used properly any of the solid forged tools should last for years.

In my opinion the best you can get is a Bulldog Premier Fork and Spade. If you want an even stronger one get a "strapped" version. These are pretty rugged tools made in Wigan and might have a few rough edges that put some buyers off and I agree they dont "look" as good as Stainless steel tools.

You might be surprised to know that stainless steel forks are not as strong as carbon steel ones. Stainless steel is easier to push in and out of sticky soil but remember it is less robust than normal forged steel and may bend or break in stony ground.

see tradesecrets for BSI strength testing of forks and spades. Use links below for replacement fork and spade handles.

There is only one factory left in the UK making solid forged Forks and Spades.

This factory is in Wigan and is owned by Bulldog Tools.

Spear & Jackson is a US Owned company with all garden tools now made in the far east

Wilkinson Sword is American owned and has no UK manufacturing.

Caldwells went bankrupt in 2009 and was acquired by Buldog

click here for my page on Bulldog Tools

Stainless steel is not always stainless, or the best!

When I say I test forks and spades I mean I test forks AND spades

lots of them - for many years now

Best Axe - Handy Bush Hook

A great tool for controlling or checking unruly bushes is this plastic handled bush hook made by Fiskars.

It uses space age "fibrecomp" plastic and has a grey coating of Teflon on the blade to give strength and durability. It is also made of a special German steel engineered specially for axes. I have met the man who invented this tool and was amazed at the amount of science and R&D that went into this excellent product.

The Fiskars Handy Bush Hook  is superbly balanced and sharp. I use one of these to chop back tree suckers and also to chop firewood! This tool is so well balanced I still have 10 fingers!

I was really surprised how good this tool is and am a bit annoyed I didn't get one before when they first came out- and I don't say that about many tools!

The Fiskars Bush Hook is a high tech version of an old tool, and one of the few that I think is an improvement

on the traditional type. .It's Teflon coating prevents rusting and it comes with a sturdy holder too.

The best Lawn Edging Shears

Lawn edging shears are simple tools that have been around for hundreds of years with few changes. Some of the 200 year old edging shears I have seen in tool museums could still be used today.   I have tested dozens of modern pairs of edging shears and gave one of my coveted Golden Shed Awards to the lightweight Aluminium handled CK legend lawn edging shears.

I thought these shears were the best because they were lightweight,  had longer handles and a better cut than any others I had used. They were  made in Germany so are a bit pricey but will last a lifetime if kept oiled and adjusted regularly. Sadly the high price of the CK shears and the recession has made them too expensive and they were discontinued in 2012.The wooden handled CK edging shears are still available for now but are even more expensive.

At around £30 the European made Bahco P75 edging shears are now my recommendation for professional use and this model has been around for decades and can be found in the sheds and stores or many gardeners and contractors that I have visited.

Bahco P75 lawn edging shears

You will find at least one pair of Bahco shears in most professional gardeners sheds

Professional Quality Hedge Shears

These European made shears are the best quality and have quite short handles for easy storage and use in confined spaces.

Bahco tools are renowned for their long lasting cutting edges which is why many professionals buy them.

The short shears have notches at the handle end of the blades and these can be used to cut thick stems. If you are not working in confined spaces the long handled ones are the nicest to use as you can reach further in more comfort. 

These short shears with notches are the best for tough hedges (15mm cut)

and for working in confined spaces.

Its the notches that enable thicker stems to be cut

The longer handles silver ones don't have the notches and don't cut such thick stems (10mm)

Best Tough Phone For Gardeners , Landscapers and Outdoor Workers

Working outside and often with water is too much for most mobile phones so I always buy a so called "tough phone"

I have had a couple of Nokia's that were great but are now no longer made. Tough phones can withstand dropping, moisture, dust and scratching.

Landrover make the most expensive model but I think the best value and most practical mobile phone for gardeners is the Samsung Extreme.

The JCB toughphone is made by the same manufacturer of the Landover S1 (Sonim) and is good value if you don't need a camera

It has had a mixed bag of reviews and I have to say I have not had good experiences with JCB regarding repairs.

I have put a link below to a range of tough phones, if you buy this using my link you will get a great phone and also help this website and my ongoing research. Thanks.

Current tough phones range in price from £60 - £340

My old Nokia 5140i was the best phone I ever had and very tough.

It has a camera, and replaceable covers and long battery life.

Now I have to have a Blackberry to answer all your e-mails

(and a Samsung Extreme as a back up phone)

I think the the best tough phones currently available are the Samsung Extreme Mobiles.

Samsung Extreme basic - good but low- res camera

Samsung B2710 Makula- improved camera, screen and IP rating

Best Buy New Samsung C3350 - waterproof for 30 mins!

this new Samsung is IP 67 rated! waterproof, dustproof & shockproof!