The best secateurs to tidy up your garden

With the sun far behind us, what better time to keep your garden tidy than with a bit of an autumn or winter groom? Before you start though, you should make sure you have the best choice of garden secateurs to ensure pruning and cutting can happen with full efficiency.

Whether you're new to gardening or have been green-fingered for years, secateurs are sure to have come up with a garden tool you'll need. These little clippers help to trim down any dead bushes and clean up your plants.

Black Friday deals on secateurs

We interrupt the regularly scheduled content to let you know that although Black Friday is over, there's still time to grab some last chance Black Friday deals on secateurs. These are the retailers that still have deals available or keep scrolling to continue reading our buyer’s guide.

Shop the best Black Friday secateurs deals: FFX | Amazon UK | Very | B&Q

23% off + extra 10% with the voucher box: gonicc 8" Professional Secateurs WAS £29.95, NOW £22.97
20% off: GRÜNTEK Bypass Secateurs WAS £15, NOW £11.98
7% off: Spear and Jackson 6758GS Razorsharp Geared Anvil Secateurs WAS £14.36, NOW £13.33
38% off: Bosch Easyprune Cordless Secateurs WAS £89.99, NOW £55.95
50% off: Secateurs Pack of 2 WAS £19.99, NOW £9.99

We've hunted down the best garden secateurs on the market right now. Whether you have a large bushy garden or a small balcony with plants, secateurs are the perfect tool for any modern garden.

Best secateurs at a glance

• Best premium secateurs: gonicc 8" Professional Secateurs - Buy now on Amazon
• Best top-rated bypass secateurs: GRÜNTEK Bypass Secateurs - Buy now on Amazon
• Best top-rated anvil secateurs: Spear and Jackson 6758GS Razorsharp Geared Anvil Secateurs - Buy now on Amazon

Best secateurs UK

Verdict: Which is the best secateurs?

If you're serious about tackling some branches, we recommend the Gonicc 8" Professional, which is durable, strong, easy to use and ergonomic. Not only is the blade coated with Antirust oil to prevent corrosion, but you won't have any issues with sap - due to the useful sap groove. This is a premium, drop-forged design. We love it.

FAQs

What are secateurs?

Secateurs are a staple tool for every and any gardener - from beginner to expert. Also known as hand pruners, they are essentially sharp scissors that you use on plants.

The reason why they're so effective in gardens is that they're strong enough to cut through thicker branches, but also work well on smaller plants and flowers.

They have a curved shape to them, designed with plant branches in mind to cut most effectively. You can see the photo above to see the classic curved blade.

You can also get loppers and shears for your garden, which differ in size and shape.

Types of secateurs to buy: anvil and bypass

There are two types of secateurs you can buy on the market: anvil and bypass.

Bypass works with cutting action, the same way as using a pair of scissors. It does what it says on the tin because the blades literally 'bypass' each other to make the cut. We recommend these for all-around use and if you're looking for a pair of secateurs to last. Garden Answers writer Geoff Hodges adds: "these are best for pruning live, green growth."

Anvil secateurs work with a crushing action, where the two blades meet each other, which are "lower, broader, blunt" according to Geoff. Therefore, these are better for sturdy branches, stems that are thicker, deadwood and thick bushes.

What to look for when shopping for the best secateurs?

With the help of Garden Answers contributor, Geoff Hodges, we have got a definitive list:

Blade Coating - Blades coated with non-stick PT FE are more rust-resistant, therefore making cutting smoother.

Sap Groove - This is a blade that directs sap away from the edge to prevent gumming up.

Cushion Stops - These rubber stops reduce jarring and excess force from causing musculoskeletal problems.

Blade Catch - This holds the blades shut when not in use, to make sure they're safe when transporting and storing. Make sure it isn’t too loose, which would interfere with pruning.

Non-Slip Handle Grips - These prevent the handles from slipping from your hands.

Contoured Handles - Choosing an ergonomic handle will help with grip, movement and cut.

Spring - Make sure to find a strong spring that stays put whilst pruning.

Secateurs vs. shears: what's the difference?

One of the biggest questions when buying secateurs is the difference between garden shears and secateurs. Are both of them necessary to effectively trim down a garden?

The answer really depends on the size of your garden, what you're looking to do and what your budget is. We would recommend investing in both shears and secateurs to ensure you have the right tools for every job.

The biggest difference between the two is that secateurs are smaller, used for trimming plants and branches, and held in just one hand. Shears are commonly used for larger jobs, used with two hands, and are better if you have hedges, larger plants, and need to cut up bigger amounts of garden waste.

The tell-tale signs to remember? Secateurs are smaller and curved in shape, and shears are large and have long blades to cut more at once. They are really just more precise.

How do I sharpen secateurs?

Geoff Hodges comments on the importance of sharp blades when pruning: "Keep them sharp – just like your best carving knife in the kitchen. Using a blade sharpener before every pruning session makes pruning quicker, easier and keeps plants healthier."

They can be sharpened with a whetstone, diamond tool or sharpening steel.

We recommend this Darlac sharpener.

We recommend this video from the Garden Ninja, Lee Burkhill, for a step-by-step:

What to read next

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Caitlin Casey is a Senior Writer for Modern Gardens, heat, Closer, and Grazia. She covers shopping, women’s lifestyle, popular culture as well as all things trending.