Comparison Test - 12 Pruners

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KEYWORDS

• home improvement
• gardening
• pruning

Pruning is a gardener's version of tough love. The idea is to strengthen the plant by taking a seemingly severe measure--cutting off parts of it. But even the most ruthless trim job requires some finesse, along with the right tools, sharp blades and good timing to ensure the plant receives maximum benefit.

We gathered 12 pruners and went to work on oak and cherry branches with diameters up to 3/4 in. Even the best pruner could not easily cut the size it was rated for, so our first advice is to ignore the rating. In general, these tools work best on branches less than 5/8 in. thick. For larger branches, use a lopper or a saw.

Our test also revealed that computer-assisted tool design and the use of plastics has paid off. Today's pruners are lighter and more comfortable than their predecessors. Although some pruners we tested were a cut above the competition, all the products did a nice, clean job. Given how inexpensive some of these tools are, we think it's best to have two or three. Use an inexpensive pruner for rough-and-ready work while preserving your best tools for your most valued plants.