The reason your secateurs are making gardening harder than it needs to be

From sticky blades to the wrong cutting action, experts at Wilkinson Sword reveal the simple secateur mistakes that could be making pruning more of a chore.  

For many gardeners, secateurs are one of the most-used tools in the shed. But if pruning is starting to feel like hard work, the problem may not be your plants - it could be your secateurs. Blunt blades, dried-on sap, a lack of lubrication, worn components or simply using the wrong type of secateur can all turn a quick pruning job into a frustrating battle.  

With more than 100 years of cutting expertise, Wilkinson Sword has developed a comprehensive range of precision cutting tools designed to make pruning more comfortable, efficient and effective. Here, their experts share the simple ways gardeners can get more from their secateurs - and when it might be time to invest in a better pair.  

1. Clean your secateurs regularly 

It is easy to put secateurs away at the end of a gardening session and forget about them until the next time they are needed. But leaving them dirty can affect how smoothly they work. Soil, plant residue and other debris can build up around the blade and moving parts. Cleaning cutting tools regularly, by giving them a simple wipe down with hot soapy water, and making sure they are thoroughly dried will help prevent corrosion. 

For gardeners who want their tools to perform at their best, cleaning should become part of the routine rather than something reserved for when a problem appears.  

2. Don't let sap turn a sharp blade into a sticky one 

One of the biggest culprits behind stiff or reluctant secateurs is plant sap. Sap can stick to the blades, attracting grime and making the cutting action increasingly difficult. Over time, what started as a clean, easy cut can become noticeably more resistant.  

To prevent damaging build up, use wire wool or a nylon scourer to remove dried sap, followed by a penetrating lubricant spray. Allow it to work for a few minutes before wiping the blades clean.  

For an added layer of protection, choosing secateurs with a non-stick blade coating can help reduce sap build-up in the first place.   

3. Keep your blades sharp 

A blunt blade doesn't just make cutting slower - it can mean having to apply considerably more effort for every cut.  

Regular sharpening helps maintain the cutting performance of your secateurs, but it is important to sharpen the blade according to its design. For example, many secateurs have a single bevel, meaning the blade should be sharpened on the appropriate side rather than treating it like a conventional double-edged blade. The key is to use light, controlled pressure rather than trying to remove material quickly. The Wilkinson Sword 6-in-1 Garden Tool Sharpener makes it easy to maintain your secateurs, with its compact design and multi-blade sharpener – and it’s good to remember that a little regular maintenance is preferable to waiting until a blade is noticeably blunt.  

4. Don't forget the pivot 

Even a beautifully sharp blade won't perform properly if the mechanism is stiff. So, once the blades have been cleaned, it is advisable to apply oil to the central pivot point and check that the working parts are correctly tightened. 

A small amount of regular lubrication can help keep the opening and closing action smooth, reducing unnecessary resistance every time the secateurs are used.  

5. Know when parts have worn out 

If your secateurs are clean, sharp and lubricated but still aren't cutting as they should, wear could be the problem.  

A damaged or worn blade, anvil or other working component can affect cutting performance and make the tool feel harder to use than it should. Rather than continuing to fight with a tool that is past its best, gardeners should check whether replacement components are available for their particular model - or consider replacing the secateurs altogether. 

Wilkinson Sword offers replacement blades and anvils for selected models within its cutting range, helping gardeners extend the working life of compatible tools.  

6. Are you using the right secateurs for the job? 

Perhaps the biggest mistake of all is using the wrong tool.  

Bypass secateurs work with a scissor-like action, with the blade passing alongside the opposing surface. They are particularly suited to young, green stems and general pruning where a clean, precise cut is required.  

Anvil secateurs, on the other hand, bring the cutting blade down onto a flat anvil. This action is designed to minimise effort when tackling older, harder or denser wood.  

Using a bypass secateur for tough, woody growth can make the job unnecessarily demanding, while using an anvil secateur when delicate, green stems need precise pruning may not provide the cutting action you're looking for.  

In other words, the right secateur isn't necessarily the one that cuts everything - it's the one designed for the job in hand.  

The premium difference 

Good secateurs should feel like they are helping rather than hindering.  

That is why Wilkinson Sword's cutting range is designed around different pruning requirements, from bypass pruners for younger green growth to anvil models for tougher wood, alongside specialist designs focused on comfort, reach and cutting performance.  

The range includes high-carbon steel blades, non-stick coatings, ergonomic grips and specialist cutting mechanisms across different models. For gardeners who want their tools to work as hard as they do, investing in a quality pair of secateurs - and learning how to maintain them correctly- can make a noticeable difference.  

For more information about Wilkinson Sword's range of secateurs and garden cutting tools, visit www.wilkinsonsword-tools.co.uk. 

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Editors notes

Wilkinson Sword's mission is to provide gardening tools of premium quality and performance that help make gardening easier and more enjoyable! Reflecting 100 years of cutting excellence, the gardening tools collection comprises highly engineered quality products, including pruners, shears, loppers, stainless steel garden tools as well as a range of axes and multi-tools. Every product in the range is put through rigorous quality tests to ensure the high-quality design, durability and strength expected from this trusted brand. Every product comes with the reassuring stamp of a 10-year guarantee.