Loppers

Garden pruning can be difficult at any time of the year, but when the plant material is dense and woody, cutting it back can be a real challenge. Here at Cromwell, we stock a wide choice of garden loppers to take the effort out of pruning and trimming tasks. Browse our range of high-quality loppers from Bulldog®, Spear & Jackson® and our own brand, Rutland®.

What are loppers?

A much larger version of secateurs, loppers are used for cutting back and pruning dense plant material. They can vary in design and include a range of user-friendly features, including telescopic handles for reach and a gear system for easy cutting.

Lopper types

There's a wide selection of loppers on the market. As a valuable gardening tool, they're designed to make the task of pruning as easy as possible.

• Geared loppers   -   designed to reduce the effort required to cut through thick and deadwood.

• Anvil loppers   -   features a top blade that closes onto a flat base.

• Telescopic handled loppers   -   adjustable handles enhance reach to prune trees and high hedges

• Ratchet loppers   -   cuts in a series of steps and reduces the user effort.

• Bypass loppers   -   delivers the same cutting action as a pair of scissors as the blades glide past one another to make the cut.

Considerations when choosing garden loppers

• Comfort - choose loppers with padded or plastic-coated handles for comfort.

• Reach - if pruning lower-level plants and trees, normal handles with do. But for higher pruning, telescopic handles are ideal.

• Strength - this will depend on the material you intend to cut and your own strength. A sharp pair of loppers will get through a lot, however, however if you want to take the effort out of pruning, geared or ratchet loppers will do the trick.

• Weight - it's a good idea to hold a pair of loppers before purchase so you can gauge if their weight and handling suits you.

• Value for money - loppers are an expensive tool and of course, you want to get the maximum value out of them. This will depend on the term of the manufacturer's warranty and the quality of material the loppers are made from.

FAQs

What's the difference between ratchet and geared loppers?

Both designs deliver a clean and easy cut with minimum effort from the user. The difference between the two is the cutting action. A ratchet system will cut a branch in multiple steps, while a geared lopper delivers a single powerful cut.

Which is better, anvil or bypass loppers?

The simple answer is neither is better than the other:

Anvil loppers are extremely powerful and will cut through dense and deadwood without fuss. The cutting action anvils use is that of a knife on a chopping board with the top blade cutting through the branch held in place by the flat base of the jaws. However, if used on younger growth, an anvil will crush and damage a limb of a plant.

Bypass loppers are like a large pair of scissors, and while they'll cut through young and thin growth easily it can be a battle to cut dense wood. Most keen gardeners own both types.