6 Best Fruit Tree Pruning Shears For Small Branches Old Farmers Swear By
Pruning small fruit tree branches? We asked old farmers for their top 6 shears. Discover durable, sharp tools for precision cuts and healthier trees.
You’ve been there. Standing in front of a young apple tree, a cheap pair of shears in your hand, squeezing with all your might only to have the branch bend and tear. That ragged, ugly wound is more than just an eyesore; it’s an open invitation for disease. The right tool isn’t a luxury, it’s the foundation of a healthy, productive home orchard.
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Why a Sharp Cut Matters for Healthy Fruit Trees
A bad cut is an open wound. When you use dull or poorly designed shears, you don’t slice through the wood fibers—you crush and tear them. This mangled tissue dies back, creating a larger wound that takes much longer for the tree to heal and compartmentalize.
Think of it like surgery. A surgeon uses a scalpel, not a butter knife, for a reason. A clean, sharp cut made by a quality bypass pruner slices cleanly, leaving a smooth surface that the tree can quickly begin to callus over. This rapid healing process is your best defense against common fungal and bacterial diseases like fire blight or canker, which often enter through pruning wounds.
Every cut you make is a decision that impacts the tree’s future health and fruit production. A clean cut minimizes stress, allowing the tree to direct its energy toward healing and growth rather than fighting off infection. Investing in a good pair of shears is an investment in the long-term vitality of your trees.
Felco F-2: The Classic Swiss-Made Standard
If there’s one pruner that has earned its place in the pockets of farmers and gardeners for generations, it’s the Felco F-2. This isn’t the flashiest tool on the shelf, but its reputation is built on decades of unwavering reliability. The forged aluminum handles are lightweight yet incredibly strong, and the hardened steel blade holds a sharp edge through seasons of work.
The real genius of the Felco design is its complete serviceability. Every single part, from the blade and anvil to the spring and bolts, is replaceable. This isn’t a disposable tool; it’s a lifetime companion. Dropped it and bent the blade? You can buy a new one. Wore out the spring after ten years? A replacement is just a few dollars.
The upfront cost is higher than many competitors, and that’s a real consideration. But when you factor in that you may never need to buy another pair of hand pruners again, the value becomes clear. It’s the definition of "buy it once, buy it right."
ARS HP-VS8Z: Unmatched Japanese Steel Sharpness
Get precise cuts with the ARS HP-VS8Z pruner, featuring durable, rust-resistant blades and comfortable, ergonomic handles. Its high-quality spring ensures lasting performance.
While Felco sets the standard for durability, ARS sets the standard for sharpness. The secret is in the high-carbon Japanese steel, which is hard-faced through a unique process called marquench hardening. The result is a blade that is legendarily sharp right out of the package and holds that razor edge longer than almost any other.
The cutting action is where the ARS truly shines. It glides through branches up to an inch thick with a smoothness that feels almost effortless, reducing hand fatigue significantly during long pruning sessions. For those who prioritize the absolute cleanest cut possible to promote rapid healing, the ARS is often the top choice.
The locking mechanism is a simple thumb latch that is easy to operate with one hand, a small but appreciated feature when you’re reaching into a tree. The only tradeoff is that the blades, while incredibly hard, can be slightly more brittle than their Swiss counterparts. Avoid twisting or trying to cut wire, and they will serve you exceptionally well.
Corona BP 3180D: A Durable All-American Workhorse
You’ll find Corona pruners on the hip of countless farmers who value straightforward, rugged performance without a premium price tag. The BP 3180D is a classic for a reason: it’s built to work hard and take a beating. It’s simple, effective, and readily available.
This tool is a true bypass pruner, with a blade that slices past a hook-shaped anvil, ensuring a clean cut on live wood. The forged steel construction feels substantial in your hand, providing confidence when you’re cutting through tougher branches. It may not have the refined, surgical feel of an ARS or Felco, but it gets the job done reliably, year after year.
For the hobby farmer just starting their orchard or someone who needs a dependable second pair, the Corona offers incredible value. It’s a massive step up from no-name hardware store brands and proves you don’t have to spend a fortune to get a tool that respects your trees.
Fiskars PowerGear2: Best for Easing Hand Strain
Pruning hundreds of small branches can take a toll on your hands, wrists, and forearms. This is where the Fiskars PowerGear2 pruner truly stands apart. Its patented gear mechanism multiplies your cutting power, making it feel like you have the strength of a much larger tool in your hands.
The design is ingenious. As you squeeze the handle, a rolling gear engages to provide a power boost right through the toughest part of the cut. This makes it an outstanding choice for people with smaller hands, less grip strength, or anyone facing a long day of trimming. The soft-grip, rotating lower handle also moves with your fingers, further reducing blisters and strain.
The primary tradeoff is complexity. More moving parts mean more places for sap to gum up and potentially more points of failure over the very long term compared to a simple design like the Felco F-2. However, for those who find traditional pruners fatiguing, the ergonomic benefit is a game-changer that makes orchard work far more enjoyable and sustainable.
Gonicc 8" Pruners: Top Value Without Compromise
Let’s be honest: sometimes tools get lost, left out in the rain, or loaned out and never returned. The Gonicc pruners have become a favorite for those who want excellent performance without the anxiety of misplacing a high-dollar tool. They deliver features found on premium models at a price that’s hard to ignore.
These pruners use high-quality SK-5 carbon steel, which is known for its ability to hold a sharp edge, and the blades are Teflon-coated to resist sap and rust. The feel and cutting action are surprisingly smooth, easily rivaling pruners that cost two or three times as much. They are a perfect example of modern manufacturing closing the gap on traditional brands.
Are they built to be a generational tool like a Felco? Probably not. But for the price, the performance is exceptional. They are the ideal choice for a new hobby farmer, someone on a tight budget, or as a reliable backup pair to keep in the truck.
LOWE 5 Anvil Pruner: The Go-To for Deadwood
It’s crucial to understand that not all pruners are created equal, or for the same job. While the five tools above are bypass pruners (like scissors, for clean cuts on live wood), the LOWE 5 is an anvil pruner. This means a single straight blade closes down onto a flat surface, or anvil—more like a knife on a cutting board.
This is your deadwood specialist. Using an anvil pruner on live, green branches will crush and damage the tissue, slowing healing. But for removing hard, brittle deadwood, it has no equal. The anvil supports the branch, allowing the blade to apply immense pressure and slice through wood that would chip or damage the fine edge of a bypass pruner.
Every orchardist needs both types of tools. You use your bypass pruners for 90% of your work—shaping the tree and removing live growth. But when it comes time to clean out the dead, brittle branches from the interior of the tree, switching to an anvil pruner like the LOWE saves your primary tool from unnecessary wear and tear and makes the job much faster.
Maintaining Your Shears for a Lifetime of Service
The best pruning shears in the world are only as good as the care you give them. A few simple habits will ensure your tool performs perfectly for decades. The most important rule is to clean your shears after every use. Sap and resin build up quickly, causing the blades to stick and making cuts more difficult. A quick wipe with a rag and some rubbing alcohol or a specialty solvent is all it takes.
Regular sharpening is non-negotiable. A dull blade forces you to use more pressure, which leads to fatigue and crushing cuts. A small diamond file or sharpening stone is all you need. A few passes along the beveled edge of the blade before each major pruning session will maintain a razor-sharp edge. Remember to only sharpen the outside, beveled edge, not the flat side.
Finally, keep the pivot point lubricated. A single drop of a light machine oil (like 3-In-One) worked into the joint will keep the action smooth and prevent rust from forming. Taking these three simple steps—clean, sharpen, and oil—transforms your pruner from a simple tool into a trusted, long-term partner in the health of your orchard.
Ultimately, the best pruner is the one that feels right in your hand and makes a clean, effortless cut. Whether you invest in a lifetime tool like a Felco or start with a high-value workhorse like a Corona, choosing quality shears is one of the most impactful decisions you can make for the health of your fruit trees. A sharp cut is a kind cut, and your trees will thank you with vigorous growth and a bountiful harvest.
