Cutting tools - review

Flower Shears, Hedge Shears, Secateurs and Hand Pruners, Loppers, Pruning Saws, Axes and Hatchets, Scythes

An important aspect of the art of cutting is choosing the best tool for the job. The above links take you to sections on specialised cutting tools but there are also some general principles:

• as the old saying has it, 'if you look after your tools, the tools will look after you'
• cutting tools should be oiled after use, to keep them working smoothly and to help prevent rust
• cutting tools should be kept sharp - this helps in making the good clean cuts which minimise the risk of infection and disease, particularly when pruning woody plants.