Tree and Shrub Pruning Tools
Tested and Reviewed by Fred-in-the-shed
Updated 1st February 2019
>This page is dedicated to tried and tested tree pruning tools, used by Fred and his team of amateur and professional gardeners.
On This Page
Wolf Multi-change Tree Pruning System
Lightweight Long Reach Pruners
For My Page On Secateurs Use Link Below
Darlac Heavy Duty Long Reach Pruning Tools
DP1570 Giant Telescopic Pole - Darlac Expert Tree Pruning Range
DP1583 Heavy Duty Geared Anvil Tree Pruner - Darlac Expert Tree Pruning Range
DP1565 Heavy Duty Saw Attachment - Darlac Expert Tree Pruning Range
This new tree pruning system is strong and lightweight but has the best cutting capability of any pruner I have tried.
The saw cuts on the forward AND backstroke and like the Anvil pruner it fixes easily and securely to the telescopic pole.
The pole extends from 1.9m to 4.9m but still weights less than 2kg.
This product is designed for the upper end of the domestic market and is also suitable for contract gardeners.
It comes from a company I have dealt with for 16 years and who supply parts and service back up.
This system is great value for money considering its superb build quality.
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Heavy Duty Pole Pruner - Fiskars Long Reach Tree Pruner ( UP53)
I have used this tool for about 17 years and still marvel at its incredible cutting power and ease of use.
Fiskars UP53 Anvil Tree Pruner The latest version is the called the Powergear UPX 82 which has an orange tip on the blade. With its cord on the inside it is easier to use than traditional tree pruners, because the cord 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. 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 lighter materials and an anvil blade which is less likely to jam on a hard stem. The standard version is 1.6m long and weighs only 740g and is known as the UP53 tree pruner. The telescopic version is 2.4m-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 try the Spear & Jackson Telescopic Tree Pruner
Fiskars Universal Cutter Anvil
Spare blades and springs available too.
Fiskars 115367 Replacement Blade Spring and Attachments
Fiskars PowerGear X Tree Pruner UPX82, Length 1.6 m
Fiskars Telescopic Universal Cutter
Fiskars Telescopic Universal Cutter Fiskars PowerGear X Telescopic Tree Pruner UPX86 Length 2.4 - 4 m,
The new materials make the 3rd telescopic version of this amazing tool light enough for anyone
to use. The latest version (UPX86) now has a bright orange plastic
guide on the blade so you can see it easier from the ground. This
simple improvement really helps when you are pruning the highest
branches. I have owned and used this tool since the first
version was introduced around 17 years ago
I have even used it from my wheelchair!
The cutting mechanism can be activated from the
orange slider on the shaft or from the ball at the bottom of the
shaft to give you maximum reach.
The head can be angled to cut across branches
which is something you don't get with the old fashioned tree
loppers.
The original Fiskars Telescopic Universal Cutter
was a Golden Shed Award Winning Product |
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Wolf Tree Pruning Tools
WOLF-Garten Professional Multi Change Pruning Saw Pro 370 I have used the Wolf Multichange system tree pruning tools for over 20 years. This curved saw has a hooked end for side shoots and has its own built in handle. As it has its own handle it cannot be fitted to the Wolf ZM02, ZM04,ZMi12 and ZMi15 handles. The saw and it's brother, the adjustable tree pruner are both superbly efficient and are best fitted to the telescopic aluminium ZMV4 pole to extend to 4m, giving you a reach of 4m plus your own height. Whilst Silky from Japan seem to be the top brand with professionals for this type of tool the high cost of Silky tools is prohibitive to most people and Wolf is a sensible option for people who want quality at a fair price.
Wolf Garten ZMV4 Multi-Change Telescopic Handle Extends from 220 - 400cm WOLF-Garten Professional Multi Change Pruning Saw Pro 370
Gardena Combisystem Tree pruning Tools The Gardena Combi-system is also German made and I have used it for over 20 years now. It is very popular in Germany but as it commands a smaller market here the prices are a bit steep for most people. I particularly like the gutter cleaning tool and the fruit picking basket. Gardena Combisystem Garden Saw 300 PP curved (8738) Gardena Combisystem Telescopic Handle 160 - 290 cm (3720) reach up to 5 metre Combisystem Anvil Branch Pruner with 3-Fold Transmission
Fredshed recommended range of cheaper interchangeable tree pruning tools
Darlac Swop Top Geared Tree Pruner Head This entry level Darlac range uses a very lightweight telescopic pole and is cheaper than Wolf and Gardena. It is ideal for someone who is not so strong or just does occasional tree pruning. |
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SHORTER LENGTH TREE AND SHRUB PRUNING TOOLS LOPPERS
Best Telescopic Loppers -Best Professional Loppers Top Quality Telescopic Loppers Telescopic loppers are great at giving the user extra reach and leverage but the introduction of moving parts presents a potential weakness. In my experience telescopic loppers fail either by snapping or the twisting mechanism gets jammed. This mainly happens if the arms are made from round tubular steel. This problem is overcome by using square section metal and locking pins to secure the adjustment. For long term heavy use Wolf telescopic loppers are the ones that I recommend (based on 10 years of hard work with one pair). They will cut live 50mm branches and have the easiest handle adjustment method.
My trusty old Wolf loppers and the new replacement model. 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. If this is the case it can be useful to have some more budget priced tools for your underlings to use. The Bulldog telescopic ratchet loppers are ideal for this purpose as they are strong, effective and don't cost too much.
The Bulldog loppers and the Wolf loppers.
Bulldog Telescopic Ratchet Bypass Lopper Wolf-Garten RR 900 Telescopic Power Cut
Wolf Garten Telescopic Loppers - with arms fully extended
and 50mm cut,
The new version of my 10 year old pair is even better and is one of
the few tools I cannot find any fault with whatsoever!
Use the link
below for the best price deal- you wont be disappointed.
Wolf-Garten RR 900 Telescopic Power Cut
Wolf Garten Power Cut loppers - go as big as you can cut with loppers!
Geared Loppers
I have been using geared loppers and shears for many
years now and hundreds 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. The Wilkinson Sword brand was bought by MTD of the
USA and the best geared loppers are now made by Fiskars of Finland. These loppers have the 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! - 2 bypass blade models and a small
anvil version. Use my links below to make sure you get the latest version
Fiskars L31 (S) PowerGear Lopper Anvil - Black
Fiskars
L74 (M) PowerGear 2 Bypass Loppers 55 cm Fiskars
L78 (L) PowerGear Bypass Lopper
Fiskars geared loppers showing maximum cutting diameters
Fiskars Quantum Lopper with aluminium handles and cork grips!
Fiskars Quantum Lopper Large Bypass
This is probably the strongest pair of loppers available today.
It is an upgraded version of the black version known as
the Powergear 2.
The cork grips on this model are comfortable and perfect for
users who don't like wearing gloves.
Best Garden Loppers? Felco Carbon Fibre Swiss Made Pruners
My favourite loppers for many years have been my
Wolf telescopic ones. But if you want something effective and really fancy, Felco of Switzerland
make these state of the art, carbon fibre handled, bypass loppers. 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 AND 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 present for a serious gardener then these loppers
make the ultimate gardening gift!
Click to buy from a Fredshed recommended retailer |
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Pruning Saws tested by Fred-the-shed Best Pro-Quality Pruning Saws 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.
When it comes to blade quality and value I don't think anyone beats Bahco. The range of Bahco pruning saws is extensive and offers the widest choice to the professional gardener. Bahco provides most tools to the forestry industry and their tools are made in the EU.
My favourite is the Bahco 5128-Js-H Saw 445MM
If you are short of space the Laplander is a great folding pruning saw and best value.
Fixed blade = Less Flex = Best Cut
Folding blade saws are convenient but less efficient at cutting.
The Bahco Laplander has been around for years and has the best user reviews of any garden tool I have ever seen. The quality of the cutting edge is superb and like the Silky saws it cuts on the backstroke for better control.
Bahco Laplander Folding Saw (396LAP)
Links For Silky Saws Silky Pocketboy 170mm Folding Saw Silky Zubat Professional 270-33 330mm Curved-Blade Hand Saw with Scabbard BIGGER SAWS FOR TREE SURGERY Bowsaws Tested and Reviewed
This humble Bowsaw in the right hands is one of the most efficient and 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 do have a chainsaw then a bowsaw makes a good back up tool. If you buy either size Bahco Bowsaw you can be sure of always being able to obtain spare blades and keep this tool for many years. 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
24 inch blade 30 inch blade Light Weight Long Reach Pruners The red jaws on the head hold onto stems after they have been cut. Darlac DP110 1000m Cut-n-Hold Snapper
See link below for alternative models
Spear & Jackson 8200RS/09 Razorsharp Easy Reach Pruner
iLOT Long Reach Bypass Tree Pruning Shears 36" (90cm)
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fixed
blade pruning saw that comes with a leg holster - for quick draw action!
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Best Secateurs for Professional Use
Original Felco 2 and the slightly larger, more ergonomic Felco 8
For extensive information of the best secateurs like these and also Japanese and German made Secateurs SEE MY PAGE DEDICATED TO SECATEURS AND OTHER HAND TOOLS
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Thanks - Fred
