Loppers vs. Pruners, Explained - Clean Air Gardening

By Matt‌ ‌Gibson‌

What’s the difference between loppers and pruners, and when do you use one or the other? Pruners generally fit in your hand and are used to prune small branches. Loppers are larger tools with long handles that give you more leverage so you can prune (or “lop off”) branches that are larger. Here’s an outline of the differences between loppers and pruners, the two most commonly used pruning tools, and explain when exactly you should use each tool.

When it comes to pruning and trimming the shrubs, trees, and plants on your property, using the proper tool for the job can turn a tough task into a walk in the park. On the other hand, using a tool that is ill-suited to the task, can make a relatively simple project into a painful, arm and wrist-aching, back-straining chore that can take hours and even cause injury. Pruning should never be something to fear or avoid, and it should never lead to physical injury, but dull pruners and rusty loppers can be more harmful than helpful and could end up putting you on the sideline for weeks.

Pruning can be quite labor intensive, depending on the size of your property and the kind of plants that you have on your home landscape. Knowing what tools to use for each trimming task on your to-do list is incredibly important and can give you a serious advantage when it comes time to prune back your plants.

Pruning and trimming make your property look neat and orderly, while adding a creative element to your landscape that your neighbors will envy. Pruning back your plants is also good for the plants themselves as well, as it promotes new vigorous growth and a more compact, bushy habit. We also discuss when loppers and pruners are insufficient for the task, and what your choices are when you need to cut through an incredibly large tree trunk or branch that is too large for even the most powerful loppers, or cut apart and remove fallen trees from your property.

Pruners

The first pruning tool that you should invest in is a sturdy pair of bypass pruners, preferably a nice pair that has replaceable blades and parts so that you don’t have to buy a whole new pair when they inevitably break or the blades lose their edge. Bypass pruners can be used for just about every small to medium pruning job.

Because of their design, in which the blades pass by each other like scissors, they are the best tool for cutting living wood. For dead branches, you will need a pair of anvil pruners or loppers, which cut the wood with one sharp blade, which crushes the dead branch against a hard surface (the anvil plate), similar to the way a knife cuts through vegetables on a cutting board.

Anvil pruners (or loppers) should never be used on living wood, as the cutting mechanism can easily damage the branch, instead of making a clean, thorough cut. Bypass pruners (or loppers) should never be used on a dead branch, as they have a tendency to get jammed in between the blades, which can bend or otherwise damage the blades of your pruner. For larger branches, you can use a folding saw or, for a bit more money, a chainsaw.

The majority of pruning tasks can be handled using just three tools: a pair of bypass pruners, a pair of anvil pruners, and a folding saw. Pruning work is tough and often very repetitive. Using the wrong tool for the task can be frustrating and tiring, and it can also shorten the lifespan of your pruning tools.

Ratchet pruners have a cutting mechanism that uses gears to cut through branches in stages, reducing the strain on your hands, arms, and wrists when cutting through thick branches. Though a good pair of bypass pruners can handle most small to medium-sized branches, ratchet pruners are perfect for especially tough wood, or for people with minimal arm strength. To help reduce the strain on your hands, arms, and wrists, always wear a pair of work gloves when pruning, and be sure to keep your tools clean and sharp.

Use bypass pruners for living branches or stems which are up to one half-inch thick or less. For dead branches and stems up to one half-inch thick or less, use an anvil pruner. For branches and stems that are greater than one half-inch in diameter, use a pair of loppers.

Loppers

Use the larger, and more heavy duty loppers when you are pruning back shrubs and trees with branches that are too large for your hand pruners. The extended length of the lopper handles will give you additional leverage, which will allow you to cut bigger stems with greater ease. A good pair of loppers should be able to cut through stems and branches that are one and one half-inch or less.

Use bypass loppers for living branches and anvil loppers for dead branches. You can also use anvil loppers for cutting down the length of a larger branch, and then come back around to make the final, more precise cut with your bypass loppers afterwards. A sturdy pair of anvil loppers should be able to handle cutting through dead branches up to two inches thick.

Folding Saw or Chainsaw?

For living and dead branches that are larger than two inches in diameter, you will need a folding saw. If the branch in question is so thick that you will have trouble sawing through it with a manual saw, you may want to invest in a chainsaw. If you don’t want to invest in a chainsaw just to cut a few branches, you can usually rent them from hardware stores for a much cheaper price than it cost to buy one outright.

Making the Best Possible Cut

When you are using your bypass pruners or loppers to cut through branches, catch the branch or stem on the bill of the pruner or looper and move the tool into a position where the branch is as deep into the jaws of the tool as possible. Then, it will be easier to cut through the branch, and you will also avoid bending the tip of the blades, as the blade tips are much more prone to bending than the base of the blades.

When using an anvil pruner or lopper, use the same basic logic as you do with bypass tools. Instead of the bill, use the anvil to catch the branch with the tool, then move the mouth of the tool to where the branch is as deep as it will go into the jaws of the pruner (or lopper), then squeeze the handles together to easily cut through the branch. Making precise cuts will help to keep your plants growing healthily and can help keep your tools in great shape.

Caring For Your Tools

Sharpen your pruning tools at the start of a work day. When you have finished pruning for the day, clean your tools well. A thorough washing with dish soap should remove the majority of sap, sawdust, and other debris that can build up on your tools during the work day.

Store your tools in a location where they are not exposed to the elements, such as rain and direct sunlight. Hang them on a peg in the garage or the tool shed, or put them in a tool bag that you store in a protected area. Sharpening, cleaning, and properly storing your tools will go a long way towards extending their lifespan and will save you plenty of money on having to buy replacement tools more often than is necessary if your tools are well cared for.

Pruners and loppers both perform very tough tasks, and any tool that takes a beating will eventually break down. Pruners and loppers are no different, which is why they typically have replacement parts available for order, and often come with sharpeners in order to to keep their edges razor sharp.

If your pruning tools are nice and sharp, you don’t have to use as much hand strength to cut through thick branches. Sharp blades also make more precise cuts, which causes less damage to your plants. Sometimes, tools just break, and that’s unfortunate. Keep an eye out for any indication that your tool is on its last legs. If you notice signs that your tools are on the decline, make sure to handle them gently and replace them whenever possible.