Pruners, Loppers & Hedge Shears
Pruning tools are sharp, and most injuries are cuts to the hand holding the branch. Trimming also puts you on ladders, near power lines and in contact with thorns, poisonous sap and flying twigs.
- Landscaping
- Grounds Maintenance
- Homeowners
Know the tools
- Hand pruners (secateurs): small branches, usually up to about ¾ inch.
- Loppers: long handles for branches up to about 1½ to 2 inches.
- Hedge shears: long straight blades for shaping shrubs.
- Bypass blades slide past each other like scissors and make clean cuts on live wood. Anvil blades press against a flat edge and work better on dead wood.
For bigger branches, use a pruning saw, not more force. See Hand Saws.
Safe cutting
- Keep the hand holding the branch away from the blades, and never in line with where the blade will close.
- Stay within the tool’s cutting capacity. Twisting or rocking a tool to finish a cut can snap it or make it slip.
- Keep blades sharp and clean, and tighten the pivot bolt so blades don’t spread apart.
- Lock pruners closed when you’re not cutting, and carry them in a holster.
- Wear gloves, long sleeves and safety glasses. Twigs snap back, and branches poke eyes.
Ladders and height
- Use a tripod orchard ladder or a stable ladder on firm ground. Don’t stand on the top steps or lean out to reach. See Ladder Safety at Home.
- Pole pruners let you reach from the ground.
- Keep people out of the area where branches will fall.
Power lines
Never trim branches touching or near power lines yourself, even with hand tools. Trees can conduct electricity. Only qualified line-clearance tree trimmers may work near lines. Call the utility. See Tree Work Near Power Lines.
Plants that fight back
- Poison ivy, oak and sumac: the oil stays on tools and gloves. Wash tools and skin with soap and water, and never burn these plants.
- Giant hogweed and wild parsnip: sap plus sunlight can cause severe burns and blisters.
- Thorns: wear heavy gloves. Keep your tetanus shot current.
- Insects: watch for wasp and bee nests in shrubs. See Allergic Reactions.
Hand strain
Hours of squeezing pruners strain hands and wrists. Use ratchet pruners or loppers for thicker branches, choose tools sized for your hand, keep blades sharp, and switch tasks. See Repetitive Motion.
Pruning checklist
- Blades sharp, clean and tight
- Safety glasses and gloves on
- No power lines within reach of the tree
- Ladder stable; drop zone clear
- Tools cleaned after cutting poison ivy or diseased plants
Standards & references
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