Pruning Tools Make Work A Bit Easier

Thu., April 2, 1998

Newport News Daily Press

Some of the best gardening tools to invest in are pruning tools, various ones that will do a quick and-clean job of keeping outdoor plants healthy and shapely looking.

Some tips to consider when shopping and caring for pruning tools:

Look for comfortable grips, good balance, adjustable blades and light weight. If you have gripping or strength problems, ratchet tools allow you to cut a stem or branch in several small steps.

Select pruning shears with smooth action and a lock button; buy heavy loppers with long, solid handles and solid jaws with no side-to-side play; and choose a pruning saw with a comfortable curve and a flexible blade.

Sharpen pruning tools with a whetstone. Keep the existing angle on the blade edge as you slide the stone against it.

Some of the more popular pruning tools include:

Hand pruner: Used to cut smaller stems. Preferred are the bypass pruners that have sharpened, curved, scissor-style blades that overlap for a clean cut.

Pruning saw: Use a finely toothed, curved pruning saw to cut branches up to 2-plus inches in diameter. This kind of saw is great for getting into tight spaces.

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