Bypass vs anvil secateurs: which do you need?
Bypass secateurs cut like scissors and suit living stems. Anvil secateurs cut like a knife on a board and suit dead wood. Most gardens need a bypass pair first.
The short answer
Buy bypass secateurs for almost everything: roses, shrubs, perennials, fruit bushes and deadheading. They cut living green stems cleanly without crushing them, which helps the plant heal.
Add anvil secateurs if you cut a lot of dead, dry or hard wood, where they need less effort. Choose a ratchet anvil pair if your grip is weak. For anything thicker than about 20–25mm, use loppers or a pruning saw instead.
Bypass and anvil compared
| Bypass | Anvil | Ratchet (usually anvil) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How it cuts | Two curved blades slide past each other, like scissors | A straight blade closes onto a flat metal or plastic anvil | Cuts in several squeezes, the mechanism holding each step |
| Best for | Living, green stems | Dead, dry, hard wood | Thick or hard stems with a weak grip |
| Cut quality on live growth | Clean | Can crush and bruise | Can crush and bruise |
| Effort on hard wood | Higher; can twist | Lower | Lowest |
| Good for precise cuts close to a bud | Yes | Less so | No |
How bypass secateurs work
A bypass pair has a sharp upper blade that slides past a thicker, curved lower blade, exactly like a pair of scissors. Because the stem is sliced rather than squeezed, the cut is clean and the bark on either side isn't crushed. Clean cuts heal faster and give disease less of a way in.
They also let you place a cut precisely, just above a bud or a leaf joint, which is what most pruning advice asks for. That makes bypass secateurs the right first pair for roses, shrubs, fruit bushes, perennials and deadheading.
Their weak spot is dead, hard wood. Forcing them through a dry, woody stem can twist the blades apart and, over time, loosen the pivot.
How anvil secateurs work
An anvil pair has a single straight blade that closes onto a flat surface, like a knife on a chopping board. The anvil supports the stem while the blade pushes through it, so cutting hard, dead wood takes less effort.
On soft green growth the same action tends to squash the stem before it cuts, leaving a bruised end. That is why anvil secateurs are usually recommended for dead wood, clearing up and cutting material for the compost heap, not for shaping living plants.
Ratchet secateurs
Ratchet secateurs, usually an anvil design, cut in stages: squeeze, release, squeeze again, with the mechanism holding the blade's position each time. They take far less hand strength per squeeze, so they suit gardeners with arthritis or a weak grip, or anyone cutting a lot of thick, hard stems. They are slower, and less suited to precise cuts on living plants.
Which do you need?
- One pair for a typical garden: bypass.
- You prune lots of dead wood, clear old shrubs or cut prunings for compost: add an anvil pair.
- Weak grip or arthritis: a ratchet anvil pair, or a bypass pair with a rotating handle.
- Stems thicker than about 20–25mm: neither. Use loppers or a pruning saw, or you will strain the secateurs and your hand.
What to look for in any pair
- Fit. Secateurs come in sizes. You should be able to open and close them fully with one hand without stretching. Left-handed versions exist and make a real difference if you're left-handed.
- Maximum cut. Makers quote the thickest stem the pair will cut. Most hand secateurs top out at around 20–25mm.
- Replaceable parts. Good secateurs have replaceable blades and springs. A pair you can repair lasts for decades; one you can't is landfill once the spring goes.
- Blade steel and coating. Hardened carbon steel holds an edge well. A non-stick coating helps with sappy stems.
- A lock you can work one-handed, so you can close them without putting down what you're holding.
- A sap groove on bypass blades, which stops them sticking when cutting sappy growth.
Looking after secateurs
- Wipe them after use to remove sap and dirt.
- Clean the blades between plants when cutting anything diseased, so you don't carry the problem from plant to plant.
- Sharpen little and often with a small sharpening stone, following the existing bevel.
- Oil the pivot and spring a few times a season.
- Store them dry, closed and locked.
Questions people ask
What is the difference between bypass and anvil secateurs?
Bypass secateurs have two curved blades that slide past each other like scissors, giving a clean cut on living stems. Anvil secateurs have one straight blade that closes onto a flat anvil, which needs less effort on dead, hard wood but can crush green stems.
Which secateurs are best for roses?
Bypass secateurs. They cut living rose stems cleanly and let you cut precisely just above a bud, which is what rose pruning needs.
Are anvil secateurs good for live plants?
Not for most pruning. The anvil action tends to squash soft, green stems before cutting them, leaving a bruised end. Anvil secateurs are better kept for dead and hard wood.
What are ratchet secateurs for?
Ratchet secateurs cut in several short squeezes, holding their position between each. They need much less hand strength, so they suit people with a weak grip or arthritis, or cutting lots of thick, hard stems.
How thick a branch can secateurs cut?
Most hand secateurs cut stems up to about 20–25mm. For anything thicker, use loppers or a pruning saw.