What matters
- Bypass blades (scissor action), not anvil
- A size that fits your hand; a lock that actually stays locked in a pocket
- Replaceable blades or a brand that sells springs — cheap shears that cannot be sharpened get thrown away
- Sanitation: you should be able to wipe sap and soil off between blighty tomato plants
You will use shears more than a full-size pruner in a raised-bed garden. Keep them dry. For tomato pruning context, see tomato spacing and the tomato page.
Product cards
Hand tools
Bypass pruning shears (research pending)
Placeholder for bypass pruners used on tomatoes, peppers, and herbs.
- Best for
- Weekly pruning and harvest in a vegetable garden.
- Price range
- To be researched
Pros
- Clean cuts on live stems
- Essential for tomato suckers and harvest
Cons
- Anvil pruners crush live stems and are a poor substitute
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need Felco-style shears?
Not to grow food. Comfort, a sharp bypass blade, and the habit of cutting rather than tearing matter more than a brand name we have not evaluated here.