Take a gander at our top ten best pruning shears!
At long last, your bonsai tree was come into full bloom! After weeks of germinating seeds and moisturizing your soil, you’ve finally seen your bonsai seeds grow into a beautiful tree. Or perhaps you aren’t growing a bonsai tree, but maybe another kind of plant that involves growing little branches? Either way, you’re a regular green-thumb. You should be proud of yourself!
But now you need to make sure that your plant is taken care of.
This can be done with a good pair of pruning shears!
Contents
What Are Pruning Shears?
To answer this question, just think of scissors. They are a powerful tool that is typically used to cut things in various patterns. When you use scissors on paper, you cut slices for either art purposes or for organizational purposes. When building, crafting, or repairing certain items, scissors are a complete necessity if you are using fabrics or balled up materials like thread. All in all, scissors are small, sharp, and to the point.
Pruning shears are just like scissors, only for plants and trees!
What Are Pruning Shears Used For?
What does it mean to prune a plant or tree, you ask? Well to answer your question, let’s remember that pruning shears are basically scissors. Plants–especially certain trees such as bonsais–are not immune to rot and decay. Like all living things, they catch certain illnesses that could kill them if not treated straight away. With plants, those illnesses usually manifest in the form of rotted bark or wilting petals. With pruning shears, you can snip the dead parts of a plant or tree and save it from getting sick.
Another use for pruning shears involves the shaping of certain plants or trees. Bonsai trees are very popular amongst pruning enthusiasts because they require occasional pruning already. A lot of people like getting creative with their bonsai tree, so they’ll prune it until its leaves form a particular form with the bark. Not only do people find an emotional calm by doing this, but they can also have quite a bit of fun in the process!
TOP 10 Best Pruning Shears To Your Bonsais
Comparison Chart
|
Our Rating |
Image |
Product |
Weight |
Warranty? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
#1 Editor Choice |  | Fiskars 99216935J Softouch Pruning Shears |
0.8 OZ. |
Yes; Lifetime Warranty |
|
#2 |  | TABOR TOOLS Pruning Shears |
9.9 OZ. |
Yes;Lifetime Warranty |
|
#3 |  | Haus & Garten ClassicPRO Pruning Shears |
8 OZ. |
Yes;Lifetime Warranty |
|
#4 |  | Hydrofarm Pruner |
1.6 OZ. |
No |
|
#5 |  | Hydroponic Pruning Shears |
7.2 OZ. |
Yes;Lifetime Warranty |
|
#6 |  | Corona Long Straight Shears |
0.16 OZ. |
Yes;Lifetime Warranty |
|
#7 |  | Dramm 18026 Stainless Steel Compact Shears |
0.32 OZ. |
No |
|
#8 |  | Corona FS-4350 Thinning Shears |
0.48 OZ. |
Yes;Lifetime Warranty |
|
#9 |  | ML TOOLS Pruning Shears |
9.6 OZ. |
No |
|
#10 |  | Dramm 18033 Little Buddy Hydroponic Garden Shears |
1.6 OZ. |
No |
*REVIEWS:
1 Fiskars 99216935J Softouch Pruning Shears
Fiskars pruning shears are an unbeatable tool to add in your plant-tending collection. Despite their small size, they can make quite the cuts on just about any kind of plant–well, except for very large and thick branches (but that just goes without saying!). These pruning shears can also be used for multiple tasks, such as edging, trimming, and leveling. And no matter how complicated the task, these babies will never break down on you. They can keep going and be ready when you pick them up again!
For a very low price, you can buy two of these elite pruning shears. That’s double the use, double the efficiency, and double the lifetime warranty! That’s right, all Fiskars pruning shears come with a lifetime warranty on them. So you never have to worry about being in a rock in a hard place.
All these reasons combined together are what make Fiskars 99216935J Softouch Pruning Shears the best pruning shears on the market!
PROS
- Can be bought in a pack of two
- Comes with a lifetime warranty, Inexpensive
- Multi-use
- Specifically designed to reduce hand strain
- Rubber handle
- Extremely durable
- Perfect for storing in your pockets!
CONS
- Spring could be a little stronger
2 TABOR TOOLS Pruning Shears
And coming in second place, TABOR TOOLS Pruning Shears are a much thicker alternative to Fiskars pruning shears. While the former shears struggle to cut thick limbs, these babies have no trouble whatsoever doing so. And with the rubber grips, you don’t have to ever worry about this tool slipping out of your hands. Just prune and be done!
But keep one thing in mind when purchasing these shears. Due to the thickness of this tool, this may not be considered one of the best pruning shears for arthritic hands. If you’re somebody with arthritic hands, you might want to purchase a pair of pruning shears that’s more merciful on your joints. If you don’t have this issue, then you’re free to use these pruning shears as much as you like!
PROS
- Affordable
- Thick blades
- Rubber handle
- Designed with a sap groove
- Extremely durable
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- Easy to adjust
- Can be bought for multiple hand sizes!
CONS
- May be a tad dull upon purchase
3 Haus & Garten ClassicPRO Pruning Shears
Haus & Garten ClassicPRO Pruning Shears are a very suitable choice for our number three slot on our list of the top ten best pruning shears 2021. We mean, just look at how thick this guy is. There ain’t much this tool can’t cut, that’s for sure! You can prune with so much ease that you’ll be shocked at how quickly it takes to cut limbs for bonsai trees!
However, these pruning shears have may have the same issue as the TABOR TOOLS Pruning Shears; they may not be the best pruning shears for arthritis.
So be careful when making this purchase!
PROS
- Affordable
- Thick blades
- Rubber handle
- Designed with a sap groove
- Extremely durable
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- Easy to adjust
CONS
- Lock mechanism is a bit testy
4 Hydrofarm Pruner
These prickly doo-dads are Hydrofarm Pruners. They are light, well-gripped, and extremely durable for plant and bonsai owners alike! They are said to be some of the best pruning shears for weak hands and we can certainly believe it. You can store these bad-boys just about anywhere you’d like and prune on the go!
Unfortunately, these pruners do not come with any form of warranty.
So just keep that in mind if and when you purchase this tool!
PROS
- Inexpensive
- Very light
- Bought with holster
- Rubber handle
- Extremely durable
- Perfect for storing in your pockets!
CONS
- No warranty
5 Hydroponic Pruning Shears
For another candidate worthy of being considered one of the best pruners for arthritic hands, look no further than Hydroponic Pruning Shears. Other than the cool color scheme, these shears are very reminiscent of Swiss army knives. No, they don’t have multiple gadgets attached to them…but their blades are designed in a way where you can do more than just pruning plants and trees. We’re talking trim jobs, edge jobs, routine maintenance not related to pruning, and whatever else your creative mind can come up with!
Just be sure they’re nice and sharp before using them. Some users have complained about their Hydroponic Pruning Shears coming in a little on the dull side. This can certainly be fixed with a good knife sharpener, however. So don’t throw it away if it comes in dull!
PROS
- Affordable
- Multi-use
- Rubber handle
- Specifically designed to reduce hand strain
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- Extremely durable
CONS
- May be a tad dull upon purchase
6 Corona Long Straight Shears
And at number six in our list of the best pruners for arthritic hands, we have these bad-boys! Corona Long Straight Shears are an inexpensive, sharp alternative to the larger pruning shears mentioned on this list. Sure, there’s smaller shears already mentioned on this list…but some (including the number one entrant) have an issue with their spring malfunctioning on them. These shears don’t have that problem, by George!
But a problem these shears DO have is with how small and sharp they are.
If you aren’t careful, you could prick your fingers by accident!
PROS
- Extremely cheap
- Leather lock strap keeps shears safe when not in use
- Blades are resistant to rust and corrosion
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- Very light
- Rubber handle
- Extremely durable
- Perfect for storing in your pockets!
CONS
- Struggles with particularly thick twigs and branches
- May pinch your fingers!
7 Dramm 18026 Stainless Steel Compact Shears
Not only are these lovely babies stylish, they are also some of the best pruning shears for bonsai. Dramm 18026 Stainless Steel Compact Shears come in six different colors, all with rubber handles for stronger grip control. They’re a fantastic size for anyone who wants a big deal out of a small tool. Just snip that extra baggage like there’s no tomorrow and store them anywhere from your toolbox to your pockets. It’s that easy!
Best of all is the nifty lock mechanism installed on these pruning shears.
It locks right into place when you’re done, so no more having to worry about someone breaking your unused shears!
PROS
- Available in six colors
- Blades are resistant to rust and corrosion
- Very light
- Affordable
- Good lock mechanism
- Rubber handle
- Extremely durable
- Perfect for storing in your pockets!
CONS
- No warranty
8 Corona FS-4350 Thinning Shears
Why buy one pair of pruning tools when you can buy two, three, or even four? Corona FS-4350 Thinning Shears are another pair of scissors that have rightfully earned the title of one of the best pruning shears for small hands. These babies are well-equipped to power through most pruning jobs, so long as it’s not out of the realm of possibilities for such a small tool to endure. You know, like many hours on end or something; nobody has THAT much pruning to do in one day!
PROS
- Can be bought in packs of two/three/four
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- Very light
- Rubber handle
- Extremely durable
- Perfect for storing in your pockets!
CONS
- A little pricier than most pruning shears
9 ML TOOLS Pruning Shears
Why buy one pair of pruning tools when you can buy two, three, or even four? Corona FS-4350 Thinning Shears are another pair of scissors that have rightfully earned the title of one of the best pruning shears for small hands. These babies are well-equipped to power through most pruning jobs, so long as it’s not out of the realm of possibilities for such a small tool to endure. You know, like many hours on end or something; nobody has THAT much pruning to do in one day!
PROS
- Can be bought in packs of two/three/four
- Comes with a lifetime warranty
- Very light
- Rubber handle
- Extremely durable
- Perfect for storing in your pockets!
CONS
- A little pricier than most pruning shears
10 Dramm 18033 Little Buddy Hydroponic Garden Shears
And our final entrant on our list of the top ten best pruning shears, we’ve got Dramm 18033 Little Buddy Hydroponic Garden Shears. Being a very cute set of shears, these babies are one of the best pruning shears for small hands. After all, size can be a burden when you need to prune a plant or tree with tools that aren’t very good fits for you. Like people with big hands who struggle with tiny scissors, us small-handed people just simply cannot stand incredibly huge pruning shears!
However, you should bear in mind that small scissors do have a pretty big downside to them. Sure, they can fit in your pockets easily, and they can make pruning jobs easier for you when you have small hands. But at the same time, small shears don’t have the same power to their blades as larger scissors do. You may be able to trim small twigs and branches just fine (for you bonsai owners out there, making these one of the best pruning shears for bonsai) but anything larger than that may prove to be a challenge.
PROS
- Very light
- Rubber handle
- Extremely durable
- Inexpensive
- Perfect for storing in your pockets!
CONS
- No warranty
- Struggles with particularly thick twigs and branches
Concluding Thoughts
So there you have it, folks; our top ten list of the best pruning shears 2021. Tending to bonsais is much easier when you know what needs to be done to properly maintain them. It’s one thing to grow a tree, but you still need to watch it and take care of it. So when limbs get too large or long, you must cut them; hence the need for pruning shears.
We’ve provided you a fantastic list of some of the best quality pruning shears available on the market. You no longer have to wonder about what brands are worthwhile in the world of plant maintenance. Just take this guide and go nuts! We certainly aren’t going to stop you–and neither is your bonsai tree!
Sarah Eberle qualified and became a member of the Landscape Institute in 1980. Over the last 26 years she has practised landscape architecture and garden design, running her own business in Devon.
During the 1990s, Sarah joined Hillier Landscapes as Design Director, where she is still a shareholder but also runs her own practice in Hampshire.
Sarah has an esteemed record in RHS shows, having won eight Gold medals, Best in Show and the George Cook award for innovation twice at Hampton Court. Sarah has also exhibited at Tatton Park and BBC Gardeners’ World Live.