Prune your garden with the best secateurs

Premium with a super-sharp blade, these secateurs are packed with clever design details. The first thing our tester noticed is the rubberised, textured handle grips, which make them really comfortable to hold securely.

The chunky central lock is easy to use, regardless of whether you’re left- or right-handed, and the fact that you can adjust them to fit your hand size is a thoughtful detail, too. The steel blade itself is very sharp and cuts through flower stems and green wood effortlessly – our tester found they could snip rosemary sprigs, olive branches, grapevine and eucalyptus stems easily and achieved a really precise, clean cut. Although the steel blade and spring make these secateurs quite weighty, this is balanced out by the relatively lightweight aluminium handles.

Priced at less than £16, these secateurs are a great option for those on a budget. Our tester found they worked well for general pruning, however they could become painful during prolonged use as there is minimal cushioning on the handles.

The secateurs struggled to cut through thicker stems and required a bit of force, however they cut through thinner stems with ease. Our tester thinks these secateurs would be better for gentle trimming of flower and herb stems, as opposed to thicker, unruly plants.

These secateurs are designed to be extremely lightweight at just 150g, making them easy to hold for
prolonged periods of time. Our tester found this was extremely helpful as pruning isn’t always a five-minute job, and heavier secateurs can often cause hand cramps or achy wrists.

Despite being lightweight, they are sturdy enough to cut through tougher branches with ease and don’t feel flimsy at all. The safety catch is also a valuable feature as it keeps the blade protected and helps to prevent accidents.

At 68cm long, these Spear and Jackson Razorsharp Easy Reach Pruners are excellent for pruning those less accessible areas (as they have a rotating body and cutting head).

Reviewers are happy with the sharpness of the tool and the handle size, but some have mentioned that the actual blades could be bigger, so that they can line them up with small but tall branches they need to cut.

Made from slate and beech, these have a satisfying weight to them, without being too heavy. The wooden handle is comfortable to hold and not too bulky. There are three settings, depending on the width you need, and these are adjusted by a sliding bolt.

Our tester found they were easy enough to operate but may become fiddly for stiff fingers on a cold day. The blades are sharp and easy to clean as they are stainless steel, so a quick rinse under the tap will keep them looking good.

These are a very sharp and precise pair of secateurs, perfect for your rose bush or any other fresh branches and they'll work through your garden with ease. With a lightweight yet durable design, you can use these for a long while before your hand begins to experience some discomfort.

The blades are shorter than some of the others on this list, making them perfect for precise cuts and trims.

Designed for comfort, these secateurs are the perfect tool for those who are left-handed or simply prefer to work with their left hand. It also has an easy-to-use locking mechanism which ensures safe storage when you're not using them.

These secateurs are the best our tester has ever used. They are well made, sharp, precise
and make pruning a joy. The sleek, classic design fits well into your hand so they feel comfortable when you are using them. The safety catch feels secure, but easy to release as and when you need to. They are packaged very nicely so would make an ideal present for a keen gardener.

Although they are on the pricier side they have been built to last and our tester feels confident they will never need to replace them.