The A/M is designed for the medium to large handed gardener and my first impressions this would suit medium to heavy use.

How smoothly the contraption can be manoeuvred one-handed will impact the efficiency of your green-fingered endeavours. Just make sure you invest in a quality product – which means good, sharp steel. The sharper the blade, the stronger the cut and the less force is required, which makes it the gentler on the wrists, says topiary expert Darren Lerigo who runs the Modern Mint online tool and gardening shop. If the blades can be sharpened, all the better. When buying secateurs there are 3 types which perform different functions. Bypass which is used for pruning fresh growth. Anvil which is used for cutting dead or larger branches. Snips which are used for finer pruning such as dead-heading flowers.The ratchet system makes pruning branches much easier and they make pruning branches possible for gardeners who thought they would no longer be able to prune branches and have previously struggled with regular secateurs. Mechanism: bypass (see FAQ at the bottom of this feature for the difference between bypass and anvil secateurs) Known to Hobson affectionately as his “double yellows”, the bright yellow Niwaki GR Pro secateurs are made with KA70 carbon steel, they’re a 23cm long pair of whoppers, weighing 239g. An impressive 26mm cutting capacity means roses, shrubs and small branches can be pruned with ease.

Chopping through deadwood can be tough on the hands and wrists but the ratchet setting on these secateurs let you cut each branch in several steps. They cut cleanly and are lighter than they look, keeping you gardening for longer. There’s an oil sponge hiding in the handle for keeping the blades well-lubricated, too. When you buy from a leading secateur maker you’ll be able to buy with confidence and own a tool that will give you years of service.Okatsune secateurs were once described as ‘Life-Changing’ by Bunny Guinness at The Telegraph and we couldn’t agree more. They are available in different versions and are the only secateurs we think truly compare to Felco’s quality and cutting performance. Okatsune models include model 101, model 104, model 108 and model 109, but it is the Okatsune 103 Bypass Secateurs that really caught our attention.

These pruning shears are designed with the serious gardener with medium to heavy duty use in mind and with these secateurs it is easy to see why they probably the most coveted pair of secateurs around. With the Felco model 6, you get the same great quality, excellent cutting performance and of course, they also come with a lifetime guarantee. Using bypass secateurs on large, dead material and you could end up damaging them. Using bypass secateurs on this plant material will also put strain n your joints and tendons.They really are the last pair of secateurs you should ever need to buy and with a lifetime warranty, they certainly offer value as well as quality when taking everything into consideration. Okatsune secateurs are a traditional styled Japanese bypass secateurs and have the distinctive red and white handles. These secateurs are great for doing work around the garden, work on Niwaki or rough pruning on your bonsai trees.