| When trimming evergreens and small shrubs around the house, what is the best all around pruner to have? Anvil or a by pass, and the difference and usage of both? Thanks |
| The topic of garden tools is very subjective, and what works for one person may not work for another. I wouldn't want to get in an argument about which one was the best. But I can tell the following: Most professional pruners I know use ?bypass? type of shears (works like scissors) rather than the ?anvil? type. You get a cleaner cut. Anvil pruners always leave a tiny stub and they purportedly crush, rather than cut, the stem. As you gain experience in pruning, you become more sensitive to the need for clean cuts. Anvil pruners can cut a stem or branch larger in diameter than bypass pruners, but that only encourages the use of the wrong tool for the job. (Loppers are a better choice for anything over the diameter of a pencil.) Hope this information helps you decide which pruner you'll use! |
