Q How can I tell that secateurs need sharpening?

A Blunt secateurs are hard to cut with and will damage your plants. Sharpen them as soon as you notice they are not cutting cleanly.

Caption: Keeping secateurs sharp will make them cut more cleanly

Q What should I use to sharpen secateurs?

A  Either use a sharpening stone or a specialist secateur sharpening tool. We found the Felco ones worked best when we tried them.

Q How do I sharpen secateurs?

A Are your secateurs or loppers anvil or bypass? Anvils cut like an axe and need to be sharpened on both sides of the cutting blade. Bypass have a blade which cuts past a curved metal surface and they need sharpening on the outer side only. Sharpen the blade to the same angle as when the tool was new.

Q How do I clean secateurs?

A Sap from pruning plants will gum up the spring and corrode the blades of your secateurs, so clean them with soapy water after each use, dry them, and give them a spray of lubricating oil. If your secateurs get wet, don't delay drying the blades. Oil them, otherwise they will rust. The oil will keep the blades and spring working smoothly.