Introduction
One-handed
shears
Adjustable
shears
One-handed
grass shears
Classic
English shears
Baronet
cut-and-hold flower gather
Conventional
hedging shears
Smallest
hedge shears
Lightweight
telescopic hedge shears
'Big
Softies' scissors
One-handed
long reach shears
Garden
saws
Small folding
saw
Retractable pruning saw
Super sharp shears
Introduction
Trimming is the action
of cutting soft foliage as opposed to pruning which involves thicker,
more woody material. Hedges, lawns, shrubs and houseplants all require
trimming. The range of tools is enormous and often complicated. Taking
time to choose the right one and buying quality tools will save you
money in the long term and may prevent unnecessary deterioration of
arthritic joints or muscular pain.
One-handed shears
Unlike the more common two-handed shears these small tools are not designed for use on hedges,
but more for grass and soft foliage. There are many models available, some with fixed blades
and others that swivel to enable you to cut the side of plants without twisting your wrist.
I recommend these adjustable types and also suggest you choose a model where the swivelling
mechanism is covered. This helps prevent debris jamming the mechanism and also protects your
hands when twisting the blades.
Adjustable shears
These quality shears have a comfortable padded grip with fingerguard and easily operated and
visible safety catch for left or right handed use.
| Blade length |
120mm |
| Weight |
300g |
| Price |
£24 |
| Supplier |
Gardena
UK Ltd |
| Model no |
676 |
|
 |
Especially good for people who use one arm.
One-handed grass shears
Similar to the previous pair, this model has now been improved with a longer and more
ergonomically correct handle.
| Blade length |
120mm |
| Weight |
300g |
| Price |
£20 |
| Supplier |
Wolf
Garden Ltd |
| Model no |
RiB |
|
 |
Especially good for people who use one arm.
Classic
English shears
Old-fashioned
sheep shears do the same job as modern one-handed shears but
do not have a safety catch, and do not swivel for cutting vertical edges.
They are worth looking at if you don't need these features, as the sprung
blades are very easy to operate and require no maintenance. This model
has stainless steel handles.
| Overall
Length |
300mm |
| Blade
length |
130mm |
| Weight
|
224g |
| Price |
£14.45
inc p&p |
| Model |
DP851
S/S |
| Supplier |
Darlac
Products |
|
 |
Especially
good for use with one hand.
Baronet cut-and-hold_flower gather
Lightweight cut-and-hold pruner suited for deadheading work. The blade is not large enough
for pruning and the handle is uncomfortable for extensive work. Fine for short periods of
deadheading or picking flowers, unless you suffer from arthritis.
| Length |
800mm |
| Weight |
400g |
| Cutting Width |
10mm soft material |
| Price |
£34.73 |
| Supplier |
A
Wright & Son Ltd |
|
 |
Especially good for people who use one arm and people who cannot bend.
Conventional hedging shears
For safe use, two strong arms are required to use this tool which commonly causes neck and
back problems along with all kinds of injury to the upper limbs.
If you use this tool take extra care:
- Keep the tool sharp, clean, well oiled
and adjusted.
- Try not to over-stretch. If possible
work with the shears close to your body, just below chest height.
- Do not attempt to cut material that
is too thick. To help prevent this carry secateurs with you whilst
hedge trimming.
- Rest frequently.
Lightweight
Telescopic Hedge Shear
This new style telescopic shear has
easy to use catches and is relatively
lightweight. Wavy blades trap twigs for easier cutting. Knob for
blade
adjustment may require some strength to use.
| Blade length |
210mm |
| Overall length |
648-864mm |
| Weight |
1kg |
| Price |
£19 |
| Supplier |
Darlac
Products |
| Model no |
DP 810 |
|
 |
Especially good for
wheelchair users, people with restricted mobility.
Super
sharp shears
If you can use two-handed shears these
are the lightest and as such may save you some arm, neck and back
strain. They have a short blade and long handles more suited to delicate
topiary. If you have arthritis be careful not to cut woody material
and damage your joints with the consequential jarring.
| Blade length |
240mm |
| Weight |
600g |
| Cutting width |
10mm soft material |
| Price |
£24 |
| Supplier |
Darlac
Products |
| Model no |
DP400 |
|
 |
Especially good for people with upper limb weakness.
'Big Softies' scissors
These conventional scissors have long thin blades ideal for reaching into crowded plants, and large,
soft "squidgy" handles that are easy-to-grip for any size of hand and are very comfortable to use.
Especially good for people
with poor co-ordination, people with sensitive skin and people who have
a weak grip.
One-handed long reach shears
For trimming grass and the edges of lawns, this 2 in 1 tool can even be used one handed. The blades swivel
from vertical to horizontal. The shears are slightly too long to be comfortably used by wheelchair users and too short for
tall people who cannot bend.
| Blade Length |
130mm |
| Weight |
1.7kg |
| Price |
£39 |
| Supplier |
Fiskars |
| Model no |
221687 multishear |
|
 |
Especially good for people
who use one arm and shorter people who have trouble bending.
Garden saws
Unlike a carpenters saw, a garden saw has special teeth to deal with live, green wood. The best ones are even
more specialised, and cut on the pull stroke. This brings the branch towards you and increases cutting pressure
and control. For safety buy a folding saw, or if you cannot unfold the blade yourself, buy a fixed blade saw
with a scabbard.
If you have tall shrubs or trees, a saw from one of the interchangeable range of tools may be useful, since
it can be used on a short or long handle.
Small folding
saw
Especially good for people
who use one arm. See also Gardena UK Ltd and Wolf Garden Ltd Multichange
saws.
Retractable pruning saw
This small but effective pruning saw cuts on the reverse stroke and is ideal for dead or live wood.
Its unique feature is that the blade can be retracted into the handle for safe storage and handling.
Most small pruning saws have a folding mechanism which is more likely to result in accidents. On this tool the blade is retracted and then locked into position by turning a small orange knob. It is possible to use this saw safely with one hand. The saw also comes with a well designed and easy to use belt clip and a lifetime guarantee.
| Blade length |
160mm |
|
| Weight |
96g |
| Price |
£12.99 |
| Supplier |
Fiskars UK Ltd |
| Model |
220863 |
Especially good for people who use one arm and those requiring a lightweight tool.
|
