pruner survey results (1 typewritten page)
- Subject: pruner survey results (1 typewritten page)
- From: n*@lighthousenet.com (Nancy)
- Date: Thu, 19 Dec 1996 09:39:12 -0700
To all the kind folks who took the time to respond to the survey,
Thanks very much. Here's the article from our Master Gardener Newsletter.
Nancy in Santa Cruz where the hills are green from the rain
The cutting edge
Nipping marketing hype in the bud, I went to the dirty fingernail crew
to find out what real gardeners use for pruning. I sent out a request to
various gardening groups on the internet and from their #2's to swivel
handles and loppers to saws, Felco was the clear winner. Although pricey,
they're recommended by the RHS and almost everyone else because they:
* come in lots of sizes
* have replaceable parts
* cut cleanly with scissor-like action
* have clip or belt loop style leather holders
* do not chip, rust, or fall apart
* fit left or right handed people
* have good spring action.
Other cutting implements worth mentioning were:
ARS long-arm pruner #180R - lightweight, sharp, good balance
ARS saw
Corona florist shears - fit hand well
Corona pruning saw
Fiskars by-pass
Fiskars mini-shears - perfect for deadheading azaleas and rhodi
Fiskars short-handled loppers - lightweight but do work of long
handled,uses gearing for
power, fits in back pocket
Ikebana scissors - sharp point for details but will cut 1/4
inch stems
Makita cordless shears, clippers
Sandvik pruning saw - great for 2-4 inch branches
Sears Craftman by-pass loppers - not great but free replacement
Snap-cut 19T at Ace Hardware
Spear & Jackson loppers
Woodsig cordless pruner
Among the budget minded entries was the single edged razorblade
boxcutter. And there was the person who uses $4.98 dimestore pruners
because, "I get to spend more money on gardening. I constantly abuse tools
by trying to get them to do more than they were designed for and they
break. It's much less work than sharpening tools."
Thanks to everyone who participated in the survey. You were most
generous with your time and advice. Some of which is:
* get something that is comfortable to use
* by-pass is best
* buy quality
* keep them clean
* never leave them out in the rain
* AM Leonard has the best mail-order prices for replacement parts and holsters.
And lastly, there is the fellow who prefers, "the pruners who live up
the street, Chris and Jose...not only did they cut down a huge diseased elm
tree for me a couple of years ago, they also cut it into fireplace sized
chunks and they give me loads of woodchips whenever I ask."
