Being hardened steel they keep a sharp edge for longer between sharpening’s. Handy if your not that diligent at keeping your tools sharp.

The Okatsune 101 has an overall length of 180mm and is the most compact pruner of the 3 models, they are particularly suitable for a small hand. The blades of this razor-sharp pruner are forged from the finest Japanese steel (the same steel from which the Katana sword of the Samurai are made), and enable you to effortlessly cut through branches up to 25mm, such as shrubs, roses, fruit trees, and creepers. In my many years of buying garden tool products I have learnt the hard way. Buy cheap, buy twice! and this is particularly relevant with secateurs.

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? For medium to heavy use and a secateur that will last a lifetime (providing you don’t misplace them in the shrubbery) the Felco 2 are, in my opinion, the best secateurs.

New tools won’t need sharpening for some time, but after a while you’ll notice them gradually lose their edge, especially if you’re box clipping (you need REALLY sharp blades to get a good finish with box). Use the Niwaki Sharpening Stones for best results (#1000 grit is best for general sharpening). With its ingenious rotating handle the P961 takes up to 3x less effort when pruning. This is due to the load being spread across all joints. Smooth blades all have their limits, says 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 very hard woods, especially knots, burrs and dead wood, can damage steel edges.

If you struggle to cut with regular secateurs, look for a ratchet bypass secateurs or anvil secateurs. This will allow you to break down each cut into multiple steps, creating an easier motion. It’s a good choice for tougher tasks that can wear on hands over time, or if you have arthritis. Beware of cheap secateurs with stainless steel blades. Stainless steel is softer than hardened steel and will not stay sharp as long, blunt blades are never a good thing on pruning shears. If you’re left-handed you probably already know that not all secateurs are suitable for left-handed people, some can be more difficult with the catches in less than ideal places, however, some models are specially designed for left-handed people such as the Felco Model 10 and maybe a better choice. Do you need rotating handles?

The shears are constructed from a few components, so that there is hardly any maintenance required. It is recommended to clean the blades after use. After cleaning it is recommended to oil the shears, and store moisture free with the cutting blades closed. If you notice that the shears are cutting less well, you can grind them using the Okatsune whetstone. Okatsune secateurs are a traditional styled Japanese bypass secateurs and have the distinctive red and white handles. These secateurs are great for doing work around the garden, work on Niwaki or rough pruning on your bonsai trees. However, topiary expert Lerigo says he found the latch used to open them involved too much fumbling around on ladders for his liking, a situation not helped by cold, numb or gloved hands. As much as I wanted to love them, and despite the superior, precise blade, Lerigo was right: the catch mechanism used to open and close them is fiddly compared with its smoother competitors, and nigh 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. When buying the best secateurs for your own use there are other makes and models suited for individual needs. Below are my best secateurs suited for individual needs. 1.) Felco 2 – Best Overall 2.) Okatune 101 – Best for Small Hands 3.) Felco 9 – Best for Left Handed Gardeners 4.) Jardin de France – Best Ratchet Secateurs 5.) Gardena A/M – Best Anvil Secateurs 6.) Okatsune 103 – Best Japanese SecateursThese pruning shears are designed with the serious gardener with medium to heavy duty use in mind and with these secateurs it is easy to see why they probably the most coveted pair of secateurs around. Rescrew the bolt, and tighten to what feels right. This is how you adjust the play, with the bolt, not the nut 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 Conran. They’re 20cm long, and are presented in a pretty eau de nil gift box. The thing you need to pay close attention to is what the blade is made blade. Some blades are made from quality hardened stainless steel and will last a lifetime, staying razor sharp even after lots of pruning. They can also be sharpened using a tungsten carbide blade or ceramic stone when needed and this should be done as soon as they start to feel less effective and take a little more effort to use. Look for hardened steel, most cheap secateurs often break at the blade. How your hand size effects which model to consider