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Tom's Guide
03-08-2025
- General
- Tom's Guide
Summer isn't over yet — 9 perennials to cut back in August for even more blooms
August is a time of abundance in the garden, but many plants will be reaching the tail end of their flowering season this month. After bursting into bloom during the spring or early summer, these perennials will now likely be looking a little tired and straggly. While it's fine to leave them be and let them fall into dormancy, gardeners may want to prompt another wave of blooms so that the garden stays vibrant for a few weeks longer. The solution? Cutting them back and encouraging new growth. Here are 9 plants that will benefit from a summer makeover and reward you with more flowers: Pruning usually takes place in the fall or winter, when plants are dormant. This ensures there is enough time for the plant to recover from the cuts before spring growth. Some plants also prefer to grow on old wood, making it even more critical to time pruning correctly so that you don't accidentally ruin next year's flowering or fruiting season. That said, pruning is a valuable tool that helps plants direct their energy into growing healthy new foliage, stems, and flowers, rather than wasting it on parts that are older, damaged, or dying. It is also used to help restore the plant to its desired shape and size, if it has become somewhat overgrown. The Felco 6 Bypass Pruner came out on top in our best pruning shear buying guide. We tested over a dozen pruners and found that the Felco has a sturdy design, yet is lightweight and gives a consistent performance Since cutting plants back helps to revitalize a plant and spur new growth, it can be used with some plants to encourage a second round of blooms later in the summer. Pruning tells the plant that the flowering season isn't quite finished and gives them renewed instruction to grow some more. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Often, this later wave of blooms will be smaller in volume and scale than earlier flowers, since the plant is tired, but it can still be a very attractive and enjoyable addition to the garden. Just be careful not to overdo it as you want the plant to bounce back quickly. This pretty plant is characterized by tall stems that are each capped by a large cloud of flowers, made up of many tiny blooms clustered together. Yarrow is usually warm-toned and most commonly found in shades of yellow and white, adding some cheerful color to any garden. As the season progresses, yarrow's long, thin stalks may grow floppy and so these are the best places to target for August pruning. How to prune Cut back the stalks to their lowest set of leaves in order to prompt healthy new growth – and hopefully another crown of flowers. It is also wise to deadhead any of the stronger stalks that are supporting spent blooms; they may be healthy enough to produce a new cap of flowers without full pruning. These garden gloves are made of nylon and nitrile and come in three sizes — small, medium and large. They offer excellent non-slip properties, are comfortable around the wrist, breathable and machine washable. At Tom's Guide, we recommend them as the best overall gardening glove. Known for its thick swathes of star-shaped flowers, garden phlox is beloved by gardeners and butterflies alike. The blooms appear in large clusters atop the leafy shrub, creating softness and vibrancy through rich pinks, reds, and purples, as well as some white varieties. This is a low-maintenance perennial with strong stalks that can support an abundance of flowers, but it will still benefit from some August trimming. How to prune To prune, focus on the individual flower stems and trace them back to their budding points from the main stalk; this is where you should make your cut. The original plant should then produce new growth and new blooms, while the cuttings can be used to propagate additional plants. To propagate, remove the lower leaves and place in some fertile potting mix. Salvias are architectural in shape, with long spires of flowers that climb upwards from low-lying foliage. They are commonly found in blues and purples, which contrasts strikingly with the lighter green leaves. This is a plant that naturally blooms later in the season for a long period of time, so August is actually more of the mid-point of its flowering. Therefore, it's an ideal time to deadhead any spires that are past their best. How to prune Work backwards from the flowers to where the growth point branches off from the main stem; ideally there is a new side bud emerging. Cut the salvia flower at this point and you should direct renewed energy into the side bud, resulting in a new spire. You can also use this pruning session to target any unwanted growth, as salvia is known to get a bit leggy and sprawling once several weeks of summer have gone by. Another plant with tall spikes of flowers is lupine, which features large plumes of blooms that narrow into the point at the top. Lupines come in a range of saturated hues and can look especially striking when several colors are planted side-by-side. The foliage underneath is equally vivid and green, with long thin leaves that splay out around the base. How to prune Deadheading this plant is recommended throughout the flowering season, once the spike only has a third of its blooms remaining. Still, you might want to undertake more substantial pruning once the plant starts to fade all over. Instead of just removing the spent flowerheads, cut back the stalks nearly all the way to the ground and leave just a few inches of stem – unless there are new buds forming, in which case cut back until the first bud. Perhaps you prefer a delphinium when it comes to tall flower spikes. These spikes are made up of a thick blanket of wide, flat flowers that have multilayered petals, mostly occurring in shades of blue. The density of petals creates a very dramatic swipe of color in the garden, so naturally, you'll want to prolong the delphinium's flowering season. Delphiniums tend to flower from spring to early summer, so by August this first wave should be done. How to prune Rather than pruning the plant in the middle of it blooming, cut back the plant once its initial flowers have all died off. Delphiniums tend to flower from spring to early summer, so by August this first wave should be done. You can either remove just the flower spire and prune down to the next flower shoot, if there is one, or cut the stalk all the way down to a couple of inches high. This will prompt a second surge of growth and hopefully a new crop of flowers to last until the fall. Everyone can recognize a geranium, that happy, wide-petalled flower that is hardy and fairly low maintenance. Cranesbill geranium is a popular choice that comes in many colors, often in a two-toned style that can add visual interest to a border or container. While this plant has a long flowering season that should carry it through to early fall, it also tends to get overgrown and straggly by midsummer. How to prune To help neaten its appearance and keep it flowering, prune back any dead blooms and then cut quite a lot of the remaining plant away; you can start by cutting back a third of each branch, which should spur new growth. If the geranium is looking especially tired or leggy, then cut back the stalks all the way to the ground where new life should hopefully be emerging. There should still be time for it to grow new leaves and flowers before the weather turns too cold. If a garden has a perennial coreopsis growing in it, then it's worth giving that plant a good prune come August. This cheerful species is known for its vibrant, warm-toned flowers that resemble daisies splashed with color. Coreopsis will begin to fade and die off in the midsummer, which is when pruning will be most effective. How to prune Target those faded patches first and then continue to prune in waves as other flowers meet the end of their blooming season. This ensures you still get to enjoy some color throughout August – the new growth won't flower for a few weeks. When cutting, there are a few options: cut down to the first new leaf node; cut and remove the stalk by a third to a half in length; or cut the stalk down to just above the ground. Your choice will depend on how healthy the rest of the plant looks, but be sure to leave some fresh growth around the base of the plant if you want to see the coreopsis flower again this year. Unlike the other colorful options on this list, lady's mantle has tiny sprays of greenish yellow flowers atop similarly-colored leaves. This makes the plant a useful choice for adding texture to the garden without distracting the eye with garish color. Lady's mantle will self-seed, so deadheading is necessary to prevent the plant from going to seed too early. How to prune In addition to this deadheading, it can be useful to prune the plant thoroughly once its first flowering season is over. By August, lady's mantle will often have become straggly and floppy, so pruning will help to restore shape, prompt stronger growth, and hopefully lead to another wave of flowers before the end of the season. It is recommended to cut the stalks right down to their base in order to see the best results. The bell-shaped flowers of campanula have given it its other name: bellflower. Several of these delicate blooms are clustered on each stem and they usually come in shades of blue or purple, although you can find varieties in pretty pastel pink and white. Even without your interference, campanula flowering will often recur throughout the summer, giving you waves of enjoyment. If the plant is looking a little sad and tired, however, then you can prompt one last flurry of flowers by pruning strategically. If the plant is looking a little sad and tired, you can prompt one last flurry of flowers How to prune Take the stems and cut them down by half, trying to create a rounded shape from the remaining bush. This will help to neaten the plant and also ensure flowers are prominently displayed when they reemerge once again.
Tom's Guide
06-07-2025
- General
- Tom's Guide
Deter wasps naturally — this fragrant plant is my secret weapon for keeping pests away from my yard
Imagine sitting outside with friends and family during a warm, balmy evening, when all of a sudden your enjoyment is interrupted by uninvited wasps. What had started as a peaceful gathering suddenly turns into a frenzied battle against against the pests, who don't have any sense of what is socially acceptable. If this sounds familiar, and you're fed up with wasps invading your outside space in the summer, snacking at your food, and sipping your sugary drinks, there are natural methods you can follow to get rid of wasps to stop you heading back indoors. Rather than using sprays and unnatural baits that can harm the pests, you can employ this natural method, which offers benefits beyond deterring wasps. While wasps drive us to distraction, Liam Cleary, outdoor plants expert at Old Railway Line Garden Centre, says there is one common garden plant that will stop the pests spoiling our fun, and it will also save you from spending out on expensive pest control. According to Clearly, planting lavender is a simple and affordable solution that looks great and keeps wasps from hanging around your garden. 'Wasps are highly sensitive to strong scents, and lavender is one they really don't like. Planting it near seating areas, doorways, or patios can help mask the smells that attract them, like food, sugary drinks, or perfumes,' he says. Lavender is also the perfect plant for dry conditions, as it's drought-resistant and can tolerate hot, dry summers that we're currently experiencing. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. This Felco bypass pruner is perfect for medium-sized hands and comes with a comfortable ergonomic handle. It has a sturdy design, yet is lightweight and gives a consistent performance. What's more, this pruner is given a 5-star rating in our best pruning shears buying guide. Lavender contains essential oils such as linalool and camphor, which give it its distinctive floral scent. While it's pleasant to humans — and pollinators like bees and butterflies — it's overwhelming to wasps, which rely heavily on scent to detect food. What's more, lavender is also one of the scents that repels mosquitoes and keeps them out of your home — it's a multi-tasking pest deterrent. Apart from its capacity to repel wasps, lavender is also one of the easiest and most rewarding plants to grow. I have several lavender bushes in my backyard, which are planted in pots and flowerbeds, planted singularly and grouped together to form low hedging. What's more, lavender is an inexpensive plant to buy, and if you're not looking for an instant result, you can grow it from seed. A packet of English Lavender seeds from PowerGrow Systems costs $2 at Amazon. Alternatively, you can purchase a 4-pack of lavender at Amazon for $24. Cleary is a fan, and says, 'It's low maintenance, smells incredible, and keeps your garden feeling calm, all while helping you enjoy a wasp-free zone.' Lavender will do best if grown in certain conditions, so to help it stay healthy and thrive, Cleary recommends following these four expert tips. 1. Choose a sunny spot Lavender loves full sun and well-drained soil, so avoid shaded or damp areas. 2. Go for pots or raised planters These make it easier to move the plants where needed, and work brilliantly on patios or balconies. 3. Don't overwater Lavender is drought-tolerant and prefers slightly dry conditions. Overwatering can cause it to wilt or rot. 4. Pair it with other natural deterrents If you're prone to wasp visits, try planting lavender alongside mint, thyme, or lemongrass for an extra layer of protection.
Tom's Guide
02-07-2025
- General
- Tom's Guide
11 top summer vegetables to grow in July — there's still time to enjoy a homegrown crop
The summer is now in full swing, and although I have started to harvest my broad beans and zucchini, there is still a golden window left to sow and grow many other vegetables and herbs. With plenty of long, warm days to look forward to and an abundance of daylight hours, there's still time to plant a kitchen garden in July to enjoy the long-lasting benefits right through to the end of summer, autumn and beyond. Here are 11 vegetables and herbs you can grow right now. Lettuce is a classic summer crop, beloved for its crisp, refreshing leaves that brighten up any meal. Now is an ideal time to sow varieties that will provide you with a steady supply of salad leaves for lunches, dinners, outdoor grills, and everything in between. Julian Palphramand, head of plants at British Garden Centres, recommends growing 'Salad Bowl' and 'Little Gem', which are varieties suited to summer sowing. 'They grow quickly and tolerate the warmer weather better than some other types,' he says. Top tip One key tip for growing lettuce now is to provide partial shade, especially during the hottest part of the day. Palapramand says this prevents bolting, which causes the plants to become bitter. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. You can also enjoy a continuous harvest by sowing lettuce every two weeks, and look forward to keeping your salad bowl full well into autumn. These greens are fast growers, often ready to harvest in just 30 to 45 days For gardeners looking to sow something other than the common lettuce, Palphramand recommends pak choi and arugula, which thrive in the warmth of summer and can be enjoyed during late summer and autumn. 'These greens are fast growers, often ready to harvest in just 30 to 45 days,' says Palphramand. 'They are excellent for stir-fries, salads, and soups, offering a peppery, fresh flavour that complements many dishes,' he adds. I'm a particular fan of arugula for its peppery taste and eat it as a green salad, while I also add it into my go-to summer salmon quiche. Turnips are a real multitasker, offering both edible roots and leafy greens, with nothing going to waste. Palphramand says, 'When sown now, turnips mature as the weather cools, which tends to improve their flavour, making them sweeter and less bitter.' They typically take between 6 and 10 weeks to reach harvest size, so if you sow them in early July, you can expect fresh turnips on your plate by early autumn. What's more Palphramand adds that turnips grow well in most soils and require minimal care, making them an ideal crop for both experienced and novice gardeners. This Felco bypass pruner is perfect for medium-sized hands and comes with a comfortable ergonomic handle. It has a sturdy design, yet is lightweight and gives a consistent performance. What's more, this pruner is given a 5-star rating in our best pruning shears buying guide. If space is limited and you don't have a large backyard to grow vegetables, you can still grow your own if you have a small patio garden or balcony. Dwarf French beans make an excellent choice and can be sown directly into the ground or planted in containers and placed on a sunny balcony, making them ideal for compact spaces. Palphramand says you can expect Dwarf French beans to produce a steady harvest from late summer into early autumn, and that they are perfect for eating fresh, steaming, or adding to casseroles and salads. Top tip I enjoy Dwarf French beans slightly steamed and cooked in garlic with some freshly grated lemon rind. You'll have to get your skates on if you want to grow carrots, but you've still got a chance to plant late-season crops, such as 'Nantes' or 'Amsterdam Forcing'. However, Palphramand says there is an advantage of growing carrots at this time, 'Sowing carrots later in the year often helps avoid the main carrot fly season, reducing the risk of damage to your crop.' What's more, he adds, 'These varieties tend to produce sweet, tender roots that are perfect for roasting, steaming, or eating raw.' Top tip Carrots prefer loose, well-drained soil and benefit from regular watering during dry spells. You can harvest baby beetroot leaves early for salads or wait for the roots to mature in late summer This brightly-colored root vegetable is another crop that thrives when sown in the summer months. Apart from enjoying your beetroot harvest, the leaves will add vibrant color to your vegetable plot. The seeds can be planted in the ground or in containers, with multi-colored varieties to choose from, creating an array of colors. 'Beetroot grows well in a range of soils and is relatively low maintenance, making it ideal for those new to gardening,' says Palphramand, and adds, 'You can harvest baby beetroot leaves early for salads or wait for the roots to mature in late summer. Their natural sweetness intensifies as the weather cools, making them a delicious autumn vegetable.' Perpetual spinach (a type of Swiss chard) and Swiss chard are resilient, easy-to-grow greens that can be sown in July for a steady supply of leaves into autumn and even winter. Palphramand says, 'These crops tolerate cooler temperatures and can be harvested as baby leaves or mature plants. Both are packed with nutrients and versatile in the kitchen, suitable for salads, sautés, and soups.' Top tip I'm a big fan of baby spinach and enjoy it in salads, mixed and tossed with roasted pine nuts. You can also partly substitute it with basil for a delicious pesto. Radishes are the ideal crop to grow for impatient gardeners. Palphramand says, 'Radishes are one of the quickest crops to grow over summer, with some varieties ready to harvest in as little as three weeks.' And because they give fast results, he adds, 'This makes them a perfect crop for children and new gardeners who want quick and satisfying results.' Radishes grow well in containers or garden beds and can be harvested continuously with successive sowings. You can start to plant vegetables in July for a winter harvest. Palphramand suggests sowing kale and cabbage, choosing varieties like 'Fizz' and 'Nero di Toscana' kale, and cabbages such as 'Sweetie' and spring cabbage. If the plants can get established now, they will be ready to be enjoyed during the colder months, when you're looking to eat steamed vegetables rather than salads. These peas provide sweet, crunchy pods that are delicious fresh or cooked It's not too late to sow peas in July for a late-season crop, but don't dally. Palphramand says that mangetout and sugar snap peas are particularly reliable varieties for planting now. 'These peas provide sweet, crunchy pods that are delicious fresh or cooked,' he says, adding, 'Sowing peas now allows you to enjoy their fresh taste well into autumn before the colder weather sets in.' Top tip If you don't eat the peas freshly picked, they can be frozen and cooked in a hearty pea and ham soup later in the year. There are plenty of herbs that will thrive if sown right now. Basil, coriander, dill, and parsley can all be sown in pots or directly into the ground. There's nothing better than cutting freshly grown herbs and adding them to your dishes for extra flavor and aroma. Palphramand recommends regularly harvesting your herbs to encourage bushier growth, and I can vouch for that!
Telegraph
19-05-2025
- General
- Telegraph
The best secateurs for pruning your garden, tested, with expert advice
Novice gardeners and experienced horticulturalists are united in their search for the best secateurs (otherwise known as pruning shears) with a steel blade. They should be capable of snipping at delicate plants to encourage growth, harvesting fruit and vegetables and hacking away at thicker branches – everything short of trimming and strimming. A simple enough purchase to make, you might think – until you start looking and quickly learn secateurs come in different shapes and sizes. Brands including Niwaki, Felco and Kent and Stowe all have different offerings and prices range from around £20 for pruning snips, up to pushing £100 for a powered pair. Then, even if you don't opt for expensive electric secateurs, you must still choose between bypass, anvil and ratchet mechanisms. More on that in our FAQ section below. To help, we've reviewed the best secateurs on the market and sought expert advice on commonly asked questions. If you're in a hurry, here's a quick look at my top five: The best secateurs: At a glance How to choose the best secateurs How smoothly the contraption can be manoeuvred one-handed will impact the efficiency of your green-fingered endeavours. Just make sure you invest in a quality product – which means good, sharp steel. The sharper the blade, the stronger the cut and the less force is required, which makes it gentler on the wrists, says topiary expert Darren Lerigo, who runs the Modern Mint online tool and gardening shop. If the blades can be sharpened, all the better. Investing in strong steel has a second benefit: it circumvents the need to buy 'ratchet' secateurs, which use an extra spring and cut through a branch in stages. Ratchets do make cutting easier on the hand, but they add more moving parts and therefore introduce more scope for things to go wrong. How we test secateurs We tested every pair of secateurs on this list in our gardens for a couple of weeks each, rating them on the quality and sharpness of the blade, how easy they were to use and how comfortable the handle was to hold. We tested them on thick rose bushes and weaker twigs. Read on to see how they compared. You'll also find a few words from some gardening experts on why particular pairs are their go-to. If you're interested in more gardening equipment, we also have guides to the best lawnmowers and best leaf blowers. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best gardening product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. All opinions are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. The best secateurs of 2025 1. Best Buy Secateurs: Okatsune 103 secateurs The Hitachi Yasugi high-carbon steel of these Okatsune secateurs stands out, producing a clean, efficient cut. Apparently, they're made with 'Izumo' iron sand, which was used in the manufacturing of ancient Japanese swords. The unusual red and white colourway shows yet more attention to detail: the red shows up in daylight, the white at night, making them harder to lose in the garden. There's less cushioning in the handles, so the experience of pruning feels more precise and direct. The flickable open-close latch mechanism is so simple to use that even a gloved hand doesn't struggle with it and it means I don't end up all fingers and thumbs dangerously close to the blade. In fact, you don't even require fingers to open them: you can simply hold the secateurs in your hand and brush the catch against your leg or hip – forwards to unlock, back to lock. They make me feel in control, which is pleasing. I'm not alone: Topiary expert Danny devoutly describes his chosen make of Japanese secateurs, Okatsune, as a bit of kit that Marie Kondo would approve of: simple, effective and capable of sparking joy, time and time again. And The Telegraph's gardening expert Bunny Guinness has described them as 'life-changing, so sharp, so well made – they have done me prouder than any other make I have owned.' Key specifications 2. Best Value Secateurs: Wilkinson Sword RazorCut Comfort Bypass Pruner No comprehensive guide to secateurs would be complete without referencing Wilkinson Sword: as well as Felco, these are some of the most ubiquitous, lower-budget pruning shears found in the UK. I was reasonably impressed: they come with a 10-year guarantee and are made with fairly good quality SK5 Japanese steel blades. The cast aluminium handles are strong and lighter than many others (they weigh 216g in total) and the grip is fine. I didn't mind the open and close mechanism too much either: you just flick down the small switch by the side of the blades (be careful not to get your fingers too close, mind) and a spring between the handles bounces open. When closed, the safety lock keeps you protected from the sharp blades. However, while they promise the standard 20mm cutting capacity I've come to expect from many brands, the reality is more like 15mm. Fine for a cheap pair of secateurs, but not a product that's likely to last you a lifetime. Key specifications 3. Best Japanese Secateurs: Niwaki GR Pro Secateurs Leading pruning specialist Jake Hobson learnt the craft of tree training, pruning and rootballing in rural Osaka and founded Niwaki (it means 'garden tree') to bring Japanese techniques to Western gardens. Known to Hobson affectionately as his 'double yellows', the bright yellow Niwaki GR Pro secateurs are made with KA70 carbon steel; they're a 23cm long pair of whoppers, weighing 239g. They didn't disappoint. The bypass design has a simple, chunky catch at the bottom, just like the Okatsune. Niwaki also sells hand-sewn leather holsters with copper rivets in which to store them. They can both be cleaned the Japanese way with odourless, non-oily camellia oil and also with a ' Crean Mate ' – a scouring block for cleaning resin, rust and other gunks from blades. According to gardening writer Anna Pavord, Hobson has 'the eye of an artist' and as a result, his loppers – in particular these limited edition S-Type secateurs – are a work of art in themselves. The only reason the Okatsune pruners pipped them to the post here is because of the price. But I'd highly recommend both – it just comes down to aesthetics. Key specifications 4. Best Hard Wearing Secateurs: Felco No.2 The sharp blade of these Felco 2's (first manufactured in 1948) proved well-suited to the most unruly of shrubs and the thickest of tough branches, but also the most delicate of stems and plants. I found the rubber cushioned, shock-absorbing, forged aluminium alloy handles to be gentle on my wrists, with a slick bypass cutting action. These are secateurs to have and to hold until death do you part: they come with a lifetime guarantee and the cutting blade is replaceable too. In fact, all the parts are, including the replaceable anvil blade with a sap groove, which helps prevent the cutting blades from sticking together after repeated use. Clever. Just make sure you don't lose them. As much as I wanted to love them and despite the superior, precise blade, the catch mechanism used to open and close them is fiddly compared with its smoother competitors. It's nearly impossible with gardening gloves on or one-handed, up a ladder, because the clasp requires a thumb to be operated. I also found that my own hands were slightly too small for them. This is a supremely solid all-rounder, nonetheless: the company claims its products are subject to 100 quality control processes, so whether I'm tending a pruning a lone rose bush or have an entire vineyard to tend to (one day, one day), they're clearly of a quality which should stand me in good stead. Talking of roses, this is the go-to pair for Chris Lowe, nursery manager at David Austin: 'Although not the cheapest, they are the most reliable and hard wearing. Cheaper brands don't stay sharp long enough and are not up to the daily pruning of the thousands of rose bushes we have here. They're simply the best.' Key specifications 5. Best Electric Secateurs: Ryobi 18V ONE+ Cordless Secateurs RY18SCA-0 Electric secateurs such as these are a wonder as they require little force in achieving precise cuts at the mere press of a trigger. It's unlikely that you will experience muscle fatigue. I felt as though I could prune all day long, putting in minimal effort to cut both soft and hard branches. There's even a fast function which moves the chrome-plated steel blades every two and a half seconds for maximum efficiency. With its rechargeable battery (either included or available separately, depending on the bundle), the secateurs can make over 2,000 cuts with a single charge (and up to 5,500 if you opt for one of its most powerful batteries). The handle is easy to grip, but it's not adjustable, which may pose an issue for the smaller-handed gardener. The power tool is lightweight and well-balanced, though, making for a pleasant user experience. I'd still recommend wearing gloves for comfort, but Ryobi has designed an ingenious holster, making it easy to keep them close by as you move about. Matching safety glasses are also available. I enjoyed the bright yellow design and Ryobi's reputation as an innovative power and garden tool manufacturer was backed up by my positive experience. The cordless secateurs seem perfectly well-made and durable, come with a blade cover and arrive thoughtfully packaged in 75 per cent recycled cardboard packaging. Overall, I had fun gardening with these. Key specifications 6. Best Left-handed Secateurs: Opinel Secateurs Opinel is a chic French knife and tool brand worth having on your radar. Design-wise, I like the combination of steel and beech wood. Cunningly, these secateurs also have three positions to fit the diameter of the branches and the size of the hand (wide opening, narrow opening, closed). The cut is clean and effortless. The stainless steel blade has a cutting capacity of diameters of 20 mm – less than the Felco and Okatsune secateurs, but more than the Wilkinson pair. The USP is how light these secateurs are. Weighing just 65g, it's the only pair sub 200g (apart from the ultra-lightweight Fiskars Snips). However, I found the lack of weight (and quality) slightly compromised their performance. The locking latch is a little clumsy and the overall design could be more sturdy. Key specifications 7. Best Secateurs with an Adjustable Handle: Gardena B/S XL A big selling point of these affordable Gardena secateurs is the 'infinitely adjustable' handle opening width, which means they should suit the size of any hands and cut a wide range of objects. Made with fibre glass, it's also grippy and ergonomically friendly, while an integrated spring (that's hidden to protect it from dirt) reduces the manual force required. In fact, pruning with them feels easy, unchallenging and gentle on my wrists. The bypass blades are great for taking on fresh wood with larger diameters and stronger branches and twigs. The two of them (one is non-stick coated and the other made of rust-proof stainless steel) glide past each other, ensuring a precise, clean cut. They should suit anything – from cut flowers to branches and thick twigs – with a diameter of up to 24mm. There's a useful single-hand safety lock for storage and a 25-year warranty, which demonstrates the tool's hard-wearing design. Key specifications 8. Best Secateurs for Hardwood: Kent & Stowe Eversharp Anvil Secateurs If you're faced with a lot of mature, hard or dead wood to cut back, the extra sharp high carbon steel blade promises to help (Kent and Stowe claims it's 50 times harder than any other blade). There's an integrated wire cutting notch, too and an AcromaPro coating (used in aerospace, apparently) to offer unparalleled wear resistance and thermal stability. Independent tests by CATRA (the Cutlery & Allied Trades Research Association) have reinforced this, showing that the Eversharp blades used have the sharpest, most long-lasting, frictionless and anti-rust design on the market, staying sharp for twice the length of others If that alone doesn't sell you, note I liked the comfortable, rubbery feel of the adjustable handle and found the adjustable anvil design easy to use on a wide range of branches and twigs (it goes up to 20mm). All my cuts were precise. I'd agree that they feel stronger and more effective than your average pair of secateurs. The tools are made in the UK and have a 10-year guarantee, so I'd happily use them regularly. Key specifications 9. Best Secateurs for Small Hands: Burgon & Ball Sophie Conran Secateurs These are striking aesthetically: entirely silver, with a simple golden bronze lock clasp to clip the handles together when not in use. They're 20cm long and arrive presented in a pretty gift box. The secateurs are also designed with small hands in mind, something that can be hard to find. Mechanism-wise, these have a chunky style I prefer, making them the easiest to control on this list. The stainless steel handles mean they're markedly resistant to rust. 'I have been known to abandon my tools in the garden as I rush off to do something else, leaving them at the mercy of the elements,' explains designer Sophie Conran. But, they're unfortunately let down by the lack of grip, which rendered them almost unusable when it rained, as they just slipped through my fingers. If you like the idea of these, however, I'd also point you in the direction of the rest of Conran's stunning collaboration with Burgon & Ball. Key specifications 10. Best Long-Reach Secateurs: Darlac 650mm Snapper The difference between loppers and pruners is that pruners can be used one-handed. So secateurs are a type of pruner. But is this two-foot pruner a type of secateur? We're going to say yes, because we're using it for the same kind of jobs. With a two-foot reach, the Darlac Snapper is great for snipping twigs and stems that are just out of reach, whether at the back of a thorny shrub or through a tangle of delicate new growth. It's slim enough to reach through small gaps and you can adjust the angle of the head to cut vertically, horizontally or at an angle. In March, it made short work of dead-heading a buddleia and in September, it was good for collecting fruit. You can adjust the head so that it locks closed on a stem but doesn't cut it, meaning you can pull things towards you and do other useful things in areas you can't reach. You can get longer versions of this tool – Spear & Jackson makes one that extends to two metres and Fiskars makes a four-meter one – but this is the one to get if you want a nimble secateur with just a bit of extra reach. Key specifications 11. Best Lightweight Cordless Secateurs: Stihl ASA 20 Cordless Electric Secateurs This was the second pair of electric secateurs I tried and it's only the slightly higher starting price that made me place them further down my list. The blades can be set to two different opening widths, catering to branches of up to 25mm in diameter. You can speed up the pace as needed and the OLED display on the side of the tool tells you the blade setting selected, the battery level (it took 70 minutes to fully recharge) and how many cuts it has done (like the Ryobi tool this does up to 2,000 cuts per charge). The trigger is situated on the handle; the blade closes as the control lever is pressed and then immediately opens when the lever is released. This felt intuitive to use from the get-go. It's easy to grip and press the trigger at the same time and my hands didn't tire at all. The mechanisation of the secateurs reduces the manual force required to a negligible amount, making them great for anyone with grip issues. While pretty hefty, they weigh less than one kilogram, fitting my hands comfortably and ergonomically, so are suitable for extended use. They made everyday garden maintenance feel simple, fast and enjoyable. The results were precise too. When using electric secateurs, it's important to be aware of safety: wear the goggles and gloves provided with the tool, plus sturdy boots or shoes, and tie back long hair. Be careful with maintenance too: when you have finished using the ASA 20, you should always remove the battery and clean with a soft cloth. Don't use a damp or wet battery and avoid using them in hot or cold temperatures. A plastic blade guard is included. Key specifications 12. Best Pruning Snips: Fiskars SP13 Micro-tip Pruning Snips Score: 8/10 We like: Their precise blades and lightweight design Reviewed by Pete Wise I have been using this incredibly useful and versatile pair of 'snips' for years. They're brilliantly designed for delicate pruning tasks, combining lightweight construction (four grams) with long blades (relative to the snips' overall size) that cut right to the points. They're good for reaching in among dense plant matter to cut out a certain leaf or deadhead a particular flower and are also effective for flower arranging, giving you a degree of precision that's often lacking in heftier secateurs. One thing you can't use these for is cutting thick stems, especially woody ones. The blades aren't designed for it and they're not strong enough, so attempting to cut a thick or tough branch with them is likely to lead only to damage and disgruntlement. The handles of the SP13 are comfortable with a slightly moulded shape. Their catch ably secures the blades in a shut position and is easy to slide open. Both the catch and the tensioning spring that holds the blades open are lightweight, but they've lasted me well so far. They come with a small plastic protective sheath that should be slid over the blades before you store the snips. You can usually pick up these snips for about £10, give or take a few pounds. Key specifications Best secateurs FAQs What are the different types of secateurs? Secateurs either use a 'bypass' or 'anvil' mechanism. Bypass secateurs are similar to scissors, with two blades that glide past each other. They're suited to caring for delicate, living plants and saplings, as well as fully grown shrubs. A good, sharp pair of bypass secateurs should cut through thicker branches and solid wood too. Anvil secateurs, on the other hand, make a 'crushing' action, like a knife on a chopping board. They should only be used on thick branches or for dead wood, as the cutting blade comes into compressing contact with metal, which can bruise the plant tissue. Slightly less popular are ratchet pruners, which are more powerful and better for cutting through thicker branches. They require less pressure on the handles because they have small springs and mechanisms to ease the efforts. Ratchet secateurs are an excellent option for gardeners lacking wrist strength. According to topiary expert Darren Lerigo, most gardeners will find bypass secateurs to be the better bet, because they make for a cleaner cut. How do I care for the blades of my secateurs? Smooth blades all have their limits, says Niwaki's Jake Hobson. Steel is hard and sharp, but it can chip if abused. Try not to cut wire, metal, stone, plastic or any other hard material. Even bamboo fibres and some hard woods, especially knots, burrs and dead wood, can damage steel edges. Do not twist or apply uneven pressure: try to cut branches diagonally, not straight across. Blades may chip or crack through misuse and bad luck, although damage can be ground out with a file. Clean the blades after use, oil them with a light oil occasionally (Darren is a fan of scentless camellia oil) and store with blades closed to protect them (and you). How do you sharpen secateurs? Sharpen with a whetstone. Leave the whetstone in water for about five minutes until soaked through, then gently rub a blade against it to sharpen. What do I do if the blades of my secateurs jam and the stems get caught between them? According to Telegraph gardening expert Helen Yemm, secateurs usually jam because of a build-up of dried sap and general garden grot on the blades. A good clean, followed by a wipe with an oily rag, sorts the problem out. Alternatively, it could be time for a thorough service, she says: ' Burton McCall, which only services Felcos, no other brand, will send them back looking like new for £30, with a replaced blade.' What are electric secateurs and are they worth it? 'Some secateurs have batteries that can assist with cutting, which gives you added power when you need it,' says Huw Richards, a permaculturalist, gardener, Garedena ambassador and bestselling author. 'When the tool's intelligent sensor detects resistance when cutting, the integrated motor will switch on and offer up to five times extra power. For people who suffer from arthritis or anything similar, secateurs with motors can help you to carry on gardening, avoiding fatigue.' According to Graham Smith, MCIHort, a gardening expert from LBS Horticulture, electric secateurs are a great alternative to manual secateurs. 'Electric secateurs can be used to cut branches up to a few centimetres thick much faster than if cutting by hand and they can be used in the place of loppers so that you do not need to switch between tools. Although they can be more expensive, electric secateurs are worth the cost if you have a large amount of regular pruning to carry out in your garden. ' There's still a place for traditional secateurs, however, according to Phil Ellwood, who distributes manual Opinel secateurs in the UK: 'The idea behind electric secateurs is to make the process 'effortless'. But if you look after your manual secateurs, then they will absolutely do the job, no effort required – and won't need you to keep an eye on the charge or make sure you have enough batteries in the house.' What is the difference between secateurs and pruners? 'There isn't a difference between secateurs and pruners – you can use the terms pretty interchangeably,' says Huw. Is WD40 good for secateurs? 'WD40 is a good option for maintaining your secateurs. It can remove rust and debris and will make sure they last longer in your shed,' says Huw. Check the maintenance guidance beforehand, however, as there may be other steps you can take to care for them.
