Buying your first hedge shears can be an exciting time, especially if you have never used them before. It’s even more fun when you go on a “wild-goose chase” to find the best hedge shears for your needs.
There are many different things to consider when choosing your hedge shears. The type of shrub you have, the size of the branches you are cutting, the type of vegetation you are pruning, and the size of the hedge you are harvesting are just a few of them.
Always remember: the best hedge shears for your particular needs will vary depending on the type of shrub, the size of the branches, the size of the hedge and the type of vegetation you are dealing with.
That’s why it is so important to understand the different types of hedge shears and how they work.
However, to ensure that you are getting the best of the best hedge shears, this blog will provide you with an overview of the different types of shears available and the features that they can provide.
What is a hedge shear?
Hedge scissors are meant to cut a large number of small branches at once, almost like a haircut for a fence. Fence scissors are designed to cut wood up to 12 inches thick.
The hedge shears are giant scissors-like devices that range in length from 12 to 28 inches. Wooden or metal handles with rubber grips are common. Available in straight, curved, serrated or wavy blades.
As the blades close, the curves, serrations and waves hold the branches in place, allowing for a cleaner cut. The best models include a rubber bumper system at the tool’s turning point to reduce the impact of two colliding handles.
How Important Hedge Shear For a Gardener
For a gardener, hedge shears are essential. They can be used for many different reasons such as trimming flowers, cutting back hedges, harvesting vegetables and much more.
As a newbie gardener, when choosing a hedge shear, it’s important to consider the type of hedge you’re going to cut.
For example, if you’re cutting small hedges, you’ll need a hedge shear with a smaller blade. If you’re cutting oak or cedar, you’ll need an even bigger one, as these plants have denser and harder wood. When you choose your hedge shear, make sure you choose one with blades that are big enough for your hedge, but not too big.
You’ll also want to make sure that the hedge shear is sturdy. When looking for a shear, avoid those that have a lot of plastic parts. If a hedge shear has plastic parts, it may make the blades a little too flexible and might not cut your hedge as well.
What are the different types of hedge shears?
The blades are the most important differentiation, and there are essentially three types:
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Straight Blade Shears
Cuts smaller shoots and soft woods with a sharp, clean edge. These are less difficult to sharpen.
These are the most common shears, and they come in a wide range of sizes and materials. The blades of good shears are fashioned in such a way that they only touch at the cutting point. Friction, stickiness, and your own tiredness are all reduced as a result.
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Wavy Blade Shears
These shears have a wavy blade that helps retain the cloth and prevents it from sliding along the blade during the cut. Sharpening them is more challenging.
Plants are practically gripped by these shears, which prevent them from slipping along the blade during the cut. As a result, you get a smooth, consistent finish that is free of clumps. These shears are particularly effective for cutting plants with open structures, such as pines and vines.
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Serrated Blade Shears
Serrated blades perform similarly to wavy blades, although they are more suited to cutting harder wood and uneven hedges. These aren’t sharpenable.
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Blade-and-Edge Shears
These are similar to grass shears in size. The upper blade has a sharp edge, while the lower blade has a flat edge. The top blade cuts smoothly while the broad front face holds stems and twigs. They’re made for grasses and other soft-leaved plants like hops and ivy.
Other Garden Shears For an Effective Gardening
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Pruning Hedge Shear/Trimmer
Trimmers are also known as hand shears and their main job is to cut small branches, trunks and branches.
When pruning trees or bushes, it’s important to have the right pruning tools, and since you can trim all kinds of small trees up to ¾” in diameter with them, including vegetables and flowers pink, basic hand shears are suitable for almost any pruning job.
Pruning shears are the most frequent form of shears used by gardeners of all levels of experience because they feature two blades that are used at the same time.
These shears should only be used to cut and trim thin branches, twigs, offshoots, and diseased leaves because they can’t cut anything too thick with them.
When you have manicured shrubs and hedges, you can use them for fine grooming work, but any bush with branches more than 34″ in diameter will require a different type of shears.
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Thinning Shears
These shears are particularly small and designed for cutting small, delicate plants and trees like Bonsai trees.
They are a little, scissor-like tool that can be used to chop a variety of dead flowers and bushes.
The blades are often short in length, despite the fact that the instrument is a standard size for pruning shears, in part because it is designed specifically for use on tiny trees and bushes.
Thinning shears have a pivot that can be adjusted to make them easier to handle, and the steel blades are guaranteed to endure a long time.
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Anvil Pruners
Imagine a sharp knife crashing down on a cutting board, and you’ll get a good idea of what anvil pruners are. The blade of these shears is sharp and has a flat, hefty edge.
They’re designed to cut thicker branches, especially when both sides are applied evenly. Anvil pruners make contact on both sides of the branch you’re working on, and you’ll appreciate their benefits once you understand how to use them.
Anvil pruners are the ideal sort of shears to use when cutting thick branches. They’re also usually light and compact, so you can cut with them without putting too much strain on your hands, and if they’re coated with titanium, sap and other debris won’t stick to them while you’re cutting.
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Needle-Nose Pruners
Pruning short, thin branches with needle-nose pruners is a breeze. Their straight blades feature a double-ground cutting edge, and their handles are usually ergonomically built, making them very comfortable to use and ensuring a precise grip every time. Pruning shears with a needle-nose are comfortable and simple to use, especially for inexperienced gardeners.
One of the most appealing features of needle-nose pruning shears is that they have a wide range of applications, making them an excellent multi-purpose item to keep in your garden shed. They’re ideal for those with little hands, and they’re wonderful for pruning fruit trees, small plants, fruits and vegetables, and even herbs.
You’ve already won half the battle by understanding the differences between hedge shears and other garden shears, but hedge shears come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Fixed, adjustable, angled, and telescopic handles are among the several varieties.
Important Tips When Buying for Hedge Shears
The type of hedge shears you choose will be determined by how you want to use them, as well as your own tastes and financial constraints.
While these more subjective aspects should be kept in mind when looking for hedge shears, here are a few features to look for when buying a tool:
- When holding and cutting thicker twigs or hardwood, models with serrations near the bottom of the blades are a real plus.
- A carbon-steel blade that has been hardened will give you precise, clean cuts with less effort.
- You can manage the blade tension with an adjustable pivot-bolt system so that your scissoring motion cuts smoothly.
- It’s well worth the money to invest in a rubber buffer that absorbs the stress of closing blades. Your elbows and wrists will be less stressed with these “shock absorbers.”
How to maintain hedge shears?
You must take care of your hedge trimmers if you want them to keep cutting smoothly. Sharp blades make cleaner cuts and are less likely to jam. Allow a professional to sharpen the blades and clean and lube them as needed.
Clean your hand shears with an oiled rag after each usage to remove sap and debris. A small amount of oil between the blades and at the bolt will keep the scissors in good working order.
Hedge shears are used by most landscape workers for a variety of tasks. And we all know that having the correct tool for the job makes life easier and saves money in the long run. So make sure you get the correct tool for the job. Instead of settling, consider the simplicity and efficiency of use.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, if you’re looking for good hedge shears, then you should do research and look into the features. The more features a hedge shear has, the better it will be. Using a hedge shear with a blade is going to provide great results.
When shopping for hedge shears, it is important to not settle and buy the right one. The quality of the hedge shears will vary from brand to brand so be sure to do your research and find the best ones for you.