What's the fundamental difference between bypass and anvil pruners?
Written by
Nguyen Minh
Reviewed by
Prof. Charles Hartman, Ph.D.Many gardeners are unsure about which pruning tools to use. Bypass and anvil pruners serve different purposes in your landscape care. After teaching pruning workshops across the Midwest for a decade, I have observed how the choices of pruning tools impact the health of your plants. Understanding how pruners work and their intended purpose can help you avoid costly mistakes in your garden.
Bypass pruners have curved blades that cut against each other like scissors. They provide a clean slicing action that is perfect for live green growth. I recommend this tool with roses, vegetables, and young trees to make precise cuts, which will result in faster healing time and make the plant less susceptible to disease.
Anvil pruners function differently when it comes to their cut, as they have a straight blade that closes against a flat, round, or square metal surface. This design crushes the plant material rather than slicing through it. They are effective at addressing dead wood, but they can cause damage to living tissue. Therefore, use them only for dry branches that are typically the result of a storm or winter pruning.
Plant Health Rules
- Never use anvil pruners on living plants
- Disinfect tools after deadwood cutting
- Sharp blades prevent tearing and disease entry
Tool Selection Tips
- Match tool to branch thickness
- Upgrade to loppers beyond 1.5 inches
- Invest in replaceable blade systems
Ergonomic Solutions
- Rotating handles reduce blister risk
- Ratchet mechanisms assist arthritis sufferers
- Test grip span before purchasing
Your garden is a reflection of your tool choices. Misuse of pruners can stress plants, as observed within the week. As I reflect on how I have used tools and cared for plants, I recall being asked to rehabilitate a few community gardens where we were removing plants. Still, the wrong tool was being employed, which quickly spread disease through an entire row of crops. When used correctly, tools improve plant vitality and reduce your work, each season.
Make sure to keep both types of pruners in your toolkit. Ideally, use your bypass pruners for live plants, and your anvil pruners for cutting dead material. This will improve the lifespan of these tools and the quality of your gardening results. When properly matched to the various cutting techniques, your plants will show their "thanks" with new growth and an abundance of food.
Read the full article: Bypass vs Anvil Pruners: Key Differences
