How to Buy Gardening Shears

A good, comfortable pair of gardening shears can be your greatest boon in the garden. Sharp shears will let you cut through tough roots and prune wayward branches. If you spend a little time picking a good pair of shears now, you will be rewarded for years to come.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Gardening gloves (optional)

1. Buy shears that are comfortable for you to hold. You can sharpen a pair of shears after you buy them, but you can't make them more comfortable. Look for shears with handles covered in soft plastic. If you typically garden while wearing gloves, make sure to put on a pair before using the shears.

2. Choose properly sized shears. If the blades are too long, they will become unwieldy. Short shears, however, won't allow you to cut through thicker vines. If you aren't sure what size shears are right for you, ask to test them out in the garden center.

3. Find shears made of durable material. Stainless steel shears are best. Do not purchase shears made of lesser metals, as they will rust and break easier, especially if you leave them outside accidentally.

4. Test the shears. If you are at a garden center, ask whether you can test them on a plant that needs pruning. If the shears don't feel comfortable while you are using them, pick another pair. If you aren't able to test the shears, ask a customer service representative or fellow customer about her experiences with gardening shears.

5. Pick shears that have a case. Shears can sometimes rust if mishandled. Shears that are in a case will be more protected from the elements and will probably last longer.

Tips & Warnings

• Buy shears from a store that will sharpen them for free or at a low cost if you are not comfortable sharpening them yourself. Shears work best when they are sharp. If you use dull shears, you will have to put more pressure on them. You may accidentally injure yourself that way.
• Always store your shears indoors, or covered if in a shed. Take care of your gardening tools and they will be in top shape for a long time.
• Do not pay a lot of money for shears if they are your first pair. Unless you really enjoy gardening, you will be wasting your money on what will amount to an expensive pair of scissors.
• Do not buy shears that promise never to need sharpening. Most shears will, and "ever-sharp" shears are more difficult to sharpen if they go dull.