With a pruning shears you are well equipped for cutting work on vines and rose bushes. In our guide, we explain in detail what distinguishes these special pruning shears and what criteria you should consider when buying them. We also provide you with specific product recommendations based on the reviews on Amazon.

Our recommendations

Fiskars bypass secateurs for fresh branches and twigs, non-stick coating, high-quality steel blades, length: 20 cm, black/orange, SingleStep, P26, 1000567
9.22 EUR To the productType | bypass |
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material of the cutting edge | steel |
non-stick coated? | Yes |
Ergonomic handles? | Yes |
effort | small amount |
Right or left handed? | suitable for both |
Weight | about 200g |
The bypass pruning shears from Fiskars are also suitable as rose and pruning shears and are one of the absolute bestsellers in the field of pruning shears and pruning shears on Amazon. It impresses in particular with its excellent price-performance ratio. With the extra robust and sharp cutting edge made of high-quality steel, the scissors enable clean cuts. Thanks to the non-stick coating, there are no annoying stickings to the blades. It is also practical that the inexpensive pruning shears are suitable for both right-handed and left-handed people. Reviewers describe the model as handy and always sharp. With this version you are actually always right.

Garden Primus secateurs, rose scissors, pruning shears, men's scissors, black/orange, 20.5 x 6.1 x 2.1 cm, 01030
24.29 EUR To the productType | bypass |
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material of the cutting edge | steel |
non-stick coated? | Yes |
Ergonomic handles? | Yes |
effort | small amount |
Right or left handed? | suitable for both |
Weight | about 230g |
What is particularly impressive about the pruning shears from Garten Primus is that they are just as suitable for thinner branches as for somewhat harder wood with a diameter of up to 20 millimeters. The angled handles ensure good leverage, which in turn makes handling easier. Like the winner in our comparison test, this model can be used by both right-handed and left-handed people. The manufacturer recommends the pruning shears primarily for men. But women with larger hands also get along very well with the execution. Reviewers praise the outstanding cutting performance.

GRÜNTEK pruning shears Z-25 forged titanium coated premium pruning shears pruning shears 215mm, bypass non-stick coating. Refund warranty !!
17.85 EUR To the productType | bypass |
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material of the cutting edge | steel |
non-stick coated? | Yes |
Ergonomic handles? | Yes |
effort | small amount |
Right or left handed? | for right-handers |
Weight | about 250g |
Here's an important note first: Although the model we suggested from Grüntek is explicitly designed for right-handers, it is also available for left-handers with the same basic structure. With this, Grüntek equips both groups of people individually and, thanks to the adapted concept, contributes to high ergonomics and, as a result, less effort. The other characteristics largely correspond to the properties of our other recommended pruning shears. It is practical that you can use these Grüntek rose scissors to cut branches with a diameter of 22 millimeters.
Purchase Criteria
anvil or bypass
Bypass shears are recommended for cutting vines and roses. With this design, the main and anvil blades slide past each other, leaving clean and smooth interfaces. You should only use anvil shears if you want to cut mighty old rose bushes. Anvil blades are considered to be particularly powerful and cut through even thicker branches with relative ease. But: When it comes to cutting fresh and healthy shoots, anvil scissors are an absolute no-go. It crushes and injures the plant tissue.
Material of the cutting head with the blades
The cutting head with the blades should be made of high quality hardened steel and be as sharp as possible. It is also important that you can sharpen the cutting edge yourself using a suitable grinding tool. It proves to be advantageous if the entire cutting head can be removed.
Non-stick coating or juice groove
When cutting fresh shoots, plant sap naturally escapes, which sticks to the blades of the pruning shears. This in turn makes the editing work more tedious and slows it down. In order to prevent sticking, the rose scissors ideally have a protective extra: either a non-stick coating or a juice groove. The former prevents the plant sap from sticking to the cutting edge; the liquid runs off through a juice groove.
Ergonomic handles
Ergonomically shaped handles are elementary so that there are no dangerous signs of fatigue on the working hand even when cutting for a long time. Here are some features at a glance that contribute to comfortable grips:
- Down-sloping cutting blades compensate for wrist twist so the hand acts in a neutral position
- Wave-like rounded handles optimally distribute the pressure in the palm area
- a well thought-out grip ergonomics results in good power transmission, which relieves your hand
Right or left handed?
Most pruning shears are designed for right-handed people. This is reflected on the one hand in the shape of the handles and on the other hand in the positioning of the safety lock. If your green thumb is on your left hand, you should look specifically for designs that are at least suitable for use with both hands. Even better, because they are ultimately much more ergonomic for you, are pruning shears especially for left-handers.
effort
It is a little unfavorable that bypass shears - i.e. the secateurs recommended by experts for vines and roses (17.82€) - generally require more effort than anvil shears. In order to be able to work without excessive effort, it is important to pay attention to a sophisticated lever structure when buying the pruning shears. In addition to the respective product description of the manufacturer, read through a large number of customer opinions in order to get an accurate picture of the models in question in advance.
Planned area of use
Which pruning shears are really the best for you also largely depends on which plants you want to cut with them. Let’s take roses as an example: Small pruning shears are usually sufficient for plants in tubs, smaller bed roses or ground cover roses. On the other hand, for fast-growing climbing roses you need larger rose scissors that are particularly robust and powerful. Take a look at the manufacturer's information and also at customer reviews to determine the possible uses of the respective scissors.
youtubefrequently asked Questions
What are pruning shears?
Pruning shears, often also referred to as rose scissors, are specially designed pruning shears that are particularly suitable for cutting thinner branches and shoots. In forestry, they are also called pruning shears. A key feature is a particularly sharp blade. Generally speaking, pruning shears come as bypass shears.
What are pruning shears for?
As the name suggests, the pruning shears have their origins in viticulture. Winegrowers use them when harvesting the grapes on their vines for their delicious red and white wines. Hobby gardeners use pruning shears primarily for the regular pruning of their rose plants. Rose shears are basically synonymous with pruning shears.
Which brands offer good pruning shears?
The best-known and most popular brands for pruning shears include Felco, Grüntek and the Finnish company Fiskars. You can also get good models from Garten Primus, Aisski and ARS. In principle, we advise you to opt for a version that comes from a well-known manufacturer that has stood for high quality for many years.
Where is the best place to buy pruning shears?
You can find pruning shears in all well-stocked hardware stores as well as garden centers and specialized wine shops. If you want a shopping experience that is as relaxed as possible and an uncomplicated ordering and return procedure, you are at the right place online at Amazon. With the popular mail order company, you also benefit from a large selection of rose and pruning shears.
How much does a pruning shears cost?
Good pruning shears are available from around ten euros - even from top brands such as Fiskars or Grüntek. The more valuable and precise the vine and rose shears are, the more they cost. The most expensive pruning shears cost over 50 euros - but for the most part the prices range between 15 and 30 euros.