The right tools for the job, make all the difference.
Loppers
This is where you spend the money, if you can. These are industry standard loppers, made right here in Levin. I’ve had these for about 15 years and quite frankly – I expect to be buried with them. The double hinges makes them super strong. Get them sharpened at the start of each pruning season. Soothe off any rust with warm water and a gentle steelo, then rub some oil all over the joins and blades.
Secateurs
My favs are these Bahco ones. In part because they don’t come in plastic – why does a secateur need plastic wrapping I wonder?! and also because they clip shut at the end of the handle with a simple wire loop that will never get stuck or break, unlike those dodgy knob closures that in time stop working. Care for them as per the loppers – clean them up and oil them and keep them sharp – which leads me to my next fav pruning tool.
Diamond Sharpener
This little guy is a real winner. Find one at farmlands, garden centres – you’ll see them about. To sharpen up your seceteurs, simply slide it along the beveled side of the blade, going in one direction ie not back and forth. A couple firm strokes from the centre join to the outer tip and oh la la, nice and sharp. Keep the sharpener in your pouch with your seceteurs so you can tickle up the blade often while pruning. Sharp tools make for clean cuts which heal quickly.
Pruning Saw
I’m a big fan of silky gomtaro saws. They’re beautiful to hold – love the rubber handle and the blades are long lasting, tough + replaceable. Rather than chucking the whole saw out, you simply un screw the blade and pop a new one in. I’m not a fan of folding saws, but others love them.
Pruning Belt
Not essential, but these are the best – Crafty Gatherer has done it again! Super comfy to wear and you’ll feel like a pro. By the way, the pruning saw doesn’t suit leather, it needs to be slung onto the belt, inside its own plastic sheath.
Keep your loppers and a bottle of vinegar + rag for cleaning tools between trees, in your pruning bucket and you’ve got yourself a nice, tidy set up.
No pruning belt, no worries! Keep all the tools in the bucket and hopefully you’ll end the day without having to hunt for anything in the long grass.
I’ve just sharpened my secateurs with my newly bought diamond sharpener as per your advice. I’ve read about the importance of this but there was never enough detail about how. But now I know – thanks Kath!
Nothing better than sharp seceteurs! Enjoy
Great advice there Kath, thank you. I reckon it’s important to find secateurs that fit your hand, a lot of them are too big for an average size woman. I admit to my everyday pair being the blue plastic Gardena ones because they are so light to have on my belt or in a back pocket. I would love Crafty Gatherer to make their tool belt in a rugged canvas — lighter, faster to dry, no maintenance. Leather is the best thing for some applications but I’m not sure it’s needed here. Looks totally awesome all worn in though 🙂
Yes – good point Rachel. Another great reason for seceteurs that dont have plastic packaging… you can try them out!
Hi Kath, thanks for all the fantastic info- so much appreciated! Can you tell me, do you advise using a pruning paste? Koanga have a recipe for a home made one but is it ok to go without?
Great question – I dont bother! I use sharp tools and clean my tools between trees and prune in dry weather – aside from this trees have all the natural capacity for healing. Branches fall and break in nature all the time and heal up tickety boo. There is one instance in which I’d use a paste and that is if there is any visible rot in the wood and in that case I’d smear on a simple beeswax based balm – one you have in your medicine cabinet like a calendula or comfrey balm is sweet. If you feel worried add a few drops of manuka oil.