When should I upgrade to loppers or saws?

Identifying the correct time to switch tools can save you injuries while providing your plants with the safest and best care. I learned this the hard way after I developed some tendonitis from excessive overuse of pruners. Size thresholds is one way to define your transitions from one tool to another. Respecting the size thresholds in your garden can save your tools and yourself excessive strain when working in the garden for extended periods of time.

When living branches are thicker than 1.5 inches, it is time to move away from bypass pruners. At that thickness, the curvature of the pruning blade creates a strain, which can risk misalignment. Instead, opt for bypass loppers with longer handles for improved leverage. I keep my loppers nearby for thick stems near my fruit trees.

Anvil pruners are very efficient when it comes to pruning out deadwood less than 2 inches in diameter. If you need to prune out deadwood greater than 2 inches in diameter, you will need to move to anvil loppers when dealing with diameter sizes up to 3 inches. The long handles give you 300% more power. Pruning my oak trees became much easier when I started to use my loppers in the stormy season in spring and fall.

Look for strain signals that indicate that the wrong tool is being used. Hand fatigue, multiple cuts per cut, or incomplete cuts suggest that you need a larger tool. I developed carpal tunnel before noticing these signs - I upgrade the tool at the first sign of discomfort, and this prevents an injury from becoming chronic.

Use a set of loppers with geared mechanisms when working with heavy materials for cutting, as they effectively multiply cutting power by approximately 5 times, alleviating the energy and effort required. My Silky loppers cut through 3-inch oak branches seamlessly, while thicker material makes a pruning saw necessary. Keeping blades sharp and teeth clean on a saw is crucial for optimal performance.

Establish a tool staging system located close to areas that absolutely require higher maintenance. For example, I have bypass loppers in my rose garden and anvil loppers near large trees, and pole saws hang in my orchard when I work the canopy. Having a staging system saves time and allows for proper use of tools for all pruning tasks.

Read the full article: Bypass vs Anvil Pruners: Key Differences