Pruning with Bypass and Anvil Shears: A Pictorial Guide111

##
Pruning is an essential part of garden maintenance. It helps to keep plants healthy, promote new growth, and control their size and shape. There are two main types of pruning shears: bypass shears and anvil shears.


Bypass Shears
Bypass shears have two blades that bypass each other when you squeeze the handles. This type of shear is best for making clean, precise cuts on live wood.
To use bypass shears, hold them with the blades facing each other and the handles parallel to the ground. Place the branch you want to cut in the middle of the blades, just below the point where you want to make the cut. Squeeze the handles to close the blades and make the cut.


Anvil Shears
Anvil shears have one blade that cuts against a flat anvil. This type of shear is best for making quick, rough cuts on dead wood.
To use anvil shears, hold them with the blade facing the anvil and the handles parallel to the ground. Place the branch you want to cut between the blade and the anvil, just below the point where you want to make the cut. Squeeze the handles to close the blades and make the cut.


Choosing the Right Pruning Shears
The type of pruning shears you choose will depend on the type of pruning you need to do. If you are pruning live wood, you will need bypass shears. If you are pruning dead wood, you can use either bypass shears or anvil shears.
Here are some additional tips for choosing pruning shears:
* Choose shears that are the right size for your hands.
* Look for shears that have comfortable handles.
* Choose shears that are made from high-quality materials.
* Sharpen your shears regularly.


Pruning Techniques
There are a few basic pruning techniques that you should know. These techniques will help you to prune your plants correctly and avoid damaging them.
* Heading cuts: Heading cuts are made to remove the end of a branch. This type of cut is used to control the size and shape of a plant.
* Thinning cuts: Thinning cuts are made to remove entire branches from a plant. This type of cut is used to improve air circulation and sunlight penetration.
* Suckering: Suckering is the removal of suckers, which are small shoots that grow from the base of a plant. Suckers can be removed by hand or with pruning shears.


Safety Precautions
When pruning, it is important to take safety precautions. Here are a few tips:
* Wear gloves and eye protection.
* Use sharp shears.
* Be aware of your surroundings.
* Do not overreach.
* Take breaks as needed.
Pruning is an essential part of garden maintenance. By following these tips, you can prune your plants correctly and avoid damaging them.

2025-02-14

---

Previous：Simple Home Video Tutorials

Next：The Ultimate Guide to Using Your Food Processor