With the multitude of styles and sizes of hedge shears readily available, understanding which tool will make your life easier takes some investigation. How do you choose the finest hedge shears?
In this article, we examine the functions to consider when purchasing hedge shears so that you’ll know what to try to find in selecting a quality item.
If you’re just interested in our recommended hedge shears, our list of evaluated shears and suggestions can be viewed at the bottom of this page.
How to Choose the very best Hedge Shears for Your Garden
Shears come in a series of sizes, styles, and prices. The best tool for you may not be the maximum option for your next-door neighbor. If you have varied usages– for instance, arborvitae shrubs as well as a privet hedge– you’ll want to select an all-purpose tool, perhaps with geared action. If, on the other hand, you have a topiary garden, you ought to try to find smaller shears that are created to do this one job well.
Important Considerations When Buying Hedge Shears
To assist you choose the best tool for your requirements, consider these elements.
Weight and Size
Because hedge trimming is a recurring job, which frequently involves rising above shoulder height, the weight of your tool is an important consideration.
A heavy tool can lead to fatigue, and yet weighty telescoping deals with are sometimes necessary to do the job. Consider your own upper body strength in picking shears.
At the lighter end, you’ll find aluminum and fiberglass deals with; steel and wood handled tools tend to be much heavier.
The most significant aspects by far in decreasing fatigue throughout usage are the weight of the tool and blade sharpness.
Cutting Blades
If you’ll be doing mostly up-close work, select shorter blades (about 6 inches) and brief deals with. For big jobs, such as cutting back an extensive privet hedge, select longer blades (9 to 12 inches) and longer handles.
Many quality hedge shears on the market are straight-blade shears made from forged steel. One advantage of straight blades is that they can be easily honed by hand with a millstone and/or sharpening stone.
Ideally, the blades on your hedge shears should touch just at the cutting point to lower friction and sticking.
Some shears have serrations on one or both blades, which can be valuable when grasping and cutting branches larger than 1/4 inch.
Another feature on some styles is a non-stick coating, supposedly to keep the blades from messing up and/or rusting.
Wavy-blade shears are likewise sold. They grip the twigs, avoiding them from moving along the blade while you’re cutting, an advantage with open-structured plants. The drawback is that wavy blades need expert honing.
Another feature to try to find is a good adjustable pivot-bolt assembly, which enables you to adjust the blade stress as essential. This is often the very first part of the tool to stop working, so being able to purchase replacement pivot bolts is a benefit.
To get the most out of your tool, it’s important that you keep the blades extremely sharp.
Cutting Mechanism
Tailored technology will enable you to cut larger branches with less effort. This function can be helpful, depending on how you plan to utilize your tool. You may not require this additional power if you shear your shrubs frequently, as you’ll be cutting soft brand-new development.