Fall is a time to prepare tools for the pruning season, but to do it well, it’s crucial to know what tools to use for the job at hand.
Clark County Master Gardener John Moore said now is a good time to start thinking about items like pruners and other cutting tools like loppers, saws and hedge trimmers.
Moore noted there are many different pruners out there. He advises people to find one that fits their hand well. They also make them for the right or left hand, so he suggests picking the best one for the individual before making an investment. Moore recommends using bypass pruners instead of handled ones because the blade is curved and cuts like scissors, while handled ones tend to crush what the person is cutting.
“When you’re using the bypass pruners, you’re going to want to put the thin blade next to the trunk, so that you don’t leave a really big stub,” he said. “The thick blade is sometimes an eighth of an inch or even thicker than that, so it’s going to leave that big of a stub. After you’re pruning it, you don’t want to have that because it invites diseases.”
Moore noted loppers are meant for medium-sized cuts, and operate similarly to pruners. He recommends keeping the thin blade close to the trunk.
“When the handles are open at 90 degrees, whatever fits in when you have the handles at 90 degrees, is the maximum of your cut there,” he said. “If you go wider than that, you’re going to tend to tear branches from the trunk rather than cutting them cleanly, and again inviting diseases and insects into a rough cut like that.”
Loppers also come in different sizes, so he encourages people to assess the job they need to get done before picking a tool. Bigger loppers require more strength to operate.
As for saws, he said there are many varieties, like folding saws, which can fit into a person’s back pocket or bigger ones that stay open.
“When you’re making your cut, the right saw needs to be at least three times as long as the cut you’re making,” he said. “So, if the diameter of the branch is two inches, you need at least a six-inch saw, so that you have a full forward stroke and a full backstroke to make a quick and clean cut.”
With hedge trimmers, Moore said they come in either straight or curved blades. The former is intended for things that are easy to cut and are smooth, while the latter is meant to cut more fine material, he said.
If a person uses the wrong tool or makes the wrong cut, not only can it cause disease, but it can also cause strain to their hands, Moore said.
“For personal safety, as well as getting a clean cut, and for the health of the tool, if you make too big of a cut, like with your hand pruners, they’re going to stretch and become loose and not be as effective in the long run,” Moore said.
